RSS Feed

DEAR ABBY: I am a 38-year-old woman with a 21-year-old daughter, “Penny.” I got pregnant at 16 and was very much alone, with little help from those around me. For a variety of reasons, I decided not to involve the father or his family. They knew I was pregnant but chose to remain uninvolved and haven’t helped in any way. I worked hard to build a life for Penny and myself, and I have remained single all this time. Her father has since passed away, but he had several other children, and his parents still live in our same small town.
I thought my secret (and right to privacy) had been respected, but I recently found out that someone told Penny about her “other family” several years ago. On my daughter’s 21st birthday, her paternal grandma called her and told her she had a birthday gift for her. This “birthday gift” was a paternity test. Come to find out, Grandma is in poor health, and her other granddaughter was her primary caregiver, but the young woman has now moved across the country. I suspect Grandma wants Penny to assume this role.
Penny is angry with me for not being honest about her history and angry that her grandmother, who has known about her for many years, is choosing to acknowledge a relationship only now. I am furious that they are putting my daughter in this situation. Am I wrong? How can I smooth this over?
SECRET’S OUT
IN COLORADO
DEAR SECRET’S OUT: Apologize to Penny for keeping the information about her father from her. Explain that you did it because the story is ugly and you hoped to spare her the pain you experienced as a teenager.
Because you live in a small town, it was unrealistic to think that this kind of secret would not come to light one day. That Penny’s grandmother would introduce herself in this way was selfish and cruel, and I hope your daughter will not allow herself to become ensnared.

DEAR ABBY: I am in multiple online groups (such as academia, work, etc.) that insist on using my full first name. They require my full first name for legal reasons and do not offer an area to input the name I actually use. I know many people have far worse problems, but it gets on my nerves that everyone I interact with calls me by a formal name I have never used.
Even when I sign my emails and texts with the correct name (which is simply cutting six letters off the end of the formal name), people still call me by my whole name. I have tried emailing, “You can just call me XXX,” but it is often ignored. It really gets under my skin.
Is there a polite way to correct them, or must I try harder not to care? I have considered changing my name legally, but it is far more trouble than it’s worth.
MISNOMER IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR MISNOMER: Because being called by a name you don’t like bothers you to the extent that you would write about it to me, my advice is to stop grinning and bearing it and MAKE the time to have your name legally changed.

***

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 446, Kings Mills, OH 45034-0446.

The Louisiana Department of Health is confirming an additional winter storm-related death and providing an update to a previously reported death.

The Jackson Parish coroner has confirmed the death of a 65-year-old male who died from hypothermia at his home following an extended power outage. The coroner has confirmed this death as storm-related.

The Sabine Parish coroner has updated the classification of the death of a 62-year-old male, whom the department previously reported as storm-related. After further investigation, the death is not considered storm-related.

The total number of winter storm-related deaths in Louisiana is eight.

During extreme winter weather, LDH urges residents to stay safe:

Know the signs of cold-related illness

See a doctor immediately or go to the emergency department if you or someone you know has these symptoms:
Hypothermia
Shivering or fumbling hands
Exhaustion or drowsiness
Confusion or memory loss
Slurred speech
Bright red, cold skin or very low energy in infants
Frostbite
Redness or pain in any skin area
White or grayish-yellow skin area
Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
Numbness
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Headache
Dizziness
Weakness
Upset stomach
Vomiting
Chest pain
Confusion

Warming Centers
There are currently 67 open warming centers across Louisiana, with 16 planned to open.
For a list of warming centers in your area, or to contact your local Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), visit getagameplan.org.

Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas.
CO is present when fuel is burned in engines, furnaces, and open fires.
Fuels that can produce CO when burned include gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane.
Breathing high levels of CO causes CO poisoning, which can cause severe illness or even death in just minutes. For this reason, CO is often referred to as an invisible killer.
The primary risk of carbon monoxide poisoning comes from home and garage use of gas generators and from malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances such as home stoves, water heaters, and space heaters.
Operating such engines and appliances in a confined space can cause CO to accumulate to toxic concentrations very quickly.
Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Infants, the elderly, and people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more likely to get sick from CO.
People who are sleeping or drunk can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.
Have a CO alarm. Combination smoke and CO detectors can alert people to CO and save lives.
See a doctor immediately or go to the emergency department if you or someone you know has these symptoms:
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are:
Headache
Dizziness
Weakness
Upset stomach
Vomiting
Chest pain
Confusion
CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like”

Generator safety
Never use portable generators indoors. This includes a garage, carport, basement, crawl space, or other enclosed or partially enclosed area, even those with ventilation.
Gas-powered generators produce carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless. Inhaling carbon monoxide can very quickly lead to full incapacitation or death.
Opening windows or doors or using fans will not prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.
If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately.
Place generators outside, more than 20 feet away from the home, doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. Do not refuel when hot.
Keep the generator dry and do not use it in wet conditions.

Heating safety
Ensure that you have a working smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector.
Have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
Ensure your heating system has been properly serviced and is clean, functioning correctly, and properly ventilated to the exterior. If you use a fireplace or chimney, have them inspected and cleaned as well.
Do not use gas or electric ovens or stoves for heating. Gas ovens may go out or burn inefficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. Electric ovens are not designed for space heating.
Do not burn outdoor barbecue materials indoors, even in a fireplace.
Plug space heaters directly into the wall socket, not into extension cords. Do not use the heater if the cords are frayed or splitting.
Place space heaters 3 to 5 feet away from bedding or other flammable materials.
Never allow children to play with or around the heater.
Unplug the heater when not in use.
Never leave the heater unattended.

BBQ grill safety
Never use charcoal grills, propane grills, or portable gas camp stoves indoors, in a garage, or on a screened-in porch.
Grills produce high levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, and deadly gas.
If using a grill outdoors, position the grill in a well-ventilated, outdoor, sheltered area away from snow, ice, and most importantly, away from siding or flammable materials.

Alcohol and hypothermia
Alcohol consumption can increase the risk of hypothermia both physiologically and through impaired decision-making. It causes blood vessels to dilate (vasodilation), making the skin feel warm while increasing heat loss. \
Alcohol also:
Reduces the shivering response, which is the body’s natural way of producing heat, keeping the body warm.
Causes our brainstem to lower our core body temperature.
Impairs judgment, which can lead to risky behaviors such as not dressing appropriately in very cold weather and not responding appropriately to signs of hypothermia such as shivering, slurred speech, or mumbling.

Drink responsibly and limit the amount of time you spend outside when the temperature is near or below freezing.

Additional tips
Wear warm clothes and go to a public place like a library, recreation center, or mall for temporary relief.
Protect outdoor pipes, bring in plants or pets, and take other necessary precautions.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries estimates that 947,103 pounds of red snapper were landed during the 2025 private recreational season.

These landings were 5.8% (52,148 pounds) above the 894,955-pound Louisiana allocation (the 2025 allocation of 894,955 pounds included a payback of 39,632 pounds from the overage in 2024). Therefore, Louisiana’s allocation in 2026 will be 882,439 pounds (934,587 pounds minus the overage of 52,148 pounds from 2025).

Anglers were able to fish red snapper for 200 days (May 1 through Nov. 16) during the 2025 season in Louisiana. The 2026 red snapper season will be set at a future Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting.

“We could not be happier about how this year’s red snapper season turned out,” said Secretary Tyler Bosworth. “We would like to thank all offshore anglers in Louisiana who have actively contributed to conservation and a very successful red snapper season by participating in the LA Creel process. We are looking forward to continuing this success in 2026.”

For more information on the 2025 Red Snapper season and detailed landing estimates, visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/red-snapper.

Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard and the City Council have introduced a new subdivision ordinance, which they say as a proactive move in the wake of Saronic Technologies’ $300 million expansion of its Franklin shipyard.
In December, Saronic promised as many as 1,500 direct jobs with an expected 3,270 total job opportunities.
Roughly a week ago, Magnet Defense LLC, a developer of fully autonomous national security maritime platforms for fleet operations and missile defense missions, announced it acquired Metal Shark, a Franklin-Jeanerette shipbuilder.
Their plans, however, have not yet been released.
Saronic’s investment though means job growth for St. Mary Parish, high-quality jobs with an average annual salary of nearly $88,000, according to a news release announcing the expansion.
Foulcard said the city administration wants to have everything in place. “Saronic has informed us of anticipated job growth with an influx of folks moving into the area. Our phones are already ringing with many questions from developers to fast food franchise inquiries.”
The mayor expects the council to pass the ordinance next month so that the city can hand over a complete packet to interested developers, listing everything from water and sewer delivery and fire hydrant locations, to the thickness and depth of its proposed streets.
“You know, there is no ‘I’ in team,” Foulcard said. “We have all played a part in working with them, from the city, to the parish, to our state officials. Everyone has played a part. And not only Franklin, but Baldwin, and all of west St. Mary Parish will benefit.”
The mayor said there is a “great deal of property” in the area that is available for future development, but would not elaborate on who the property owners are.
“Saronic is moving rather quickly and we are super excited that they are coming,” he said. The defense tech company is expanding its shipyard to include three new slips, a larger warehouse, and a new assembly line, with construction set to be completed by the end of 2026.
“Franklin is constantly evolving. There are those who think we have been sitting idle, but thankfully there are more out there who see how we’re tackling many issues in our city, always strategizing and revising our game plan. My door has always been open since the day I became mayor,” Foulcard said.
Nearing the end of his second term in office, Foulcard is continuing several improvements, including tackling the city’s water distribution woes.”
“When I took office in 2018, I prioritized securing funding to rehabilitate Franklin’s water distribution system. My first step was to assess the situation thoroughly, so I enlisted Miller Engineering to develop a comprehensive plan and cost estimate for fully rehabilitating our water plant and distribution lines. Their findings in 2018 projected a $35 million price tag for the necessary upgrades,” he said.
“This issue didn’t arise overnight, and it cannot be resolved overnight. Securing funding requires a 25% match from the city for any grants or capital outlay funding we pursue. This is why I consistently emphasize the importance of shopping, eating, playing and fueling local first — those sales tax dollars are to be used for creating the matching funds we need.”
But despite his efforts since, and even though there is an uptick in sales tax collections, city applications for Louisiana Water Sector Grants in both 2020 ($4 million) and in 2022 ($2.4 million) were denied.
However, thanks to the efforts of state Sen. Robert Allain and state Rep. Vinny St. Blanc, the city secured $2.4 million in Capital Outlay funding in early 2025. These funds enabled the city to begin a rehabilitation of the city’s water plant which dates back to 1967.
The mayor said one phase has been completed and a second phase is about to begin, which hopefully will be completed by the end of this year.
“Regardless, we continue to apply for our water distribution system to replace our city infrastructure pipes which are over 110 years old, serving roughly 3,000 customers.”
Other community projects have included upgrades to parks and playgrounds, new HVAC systems for the community center and continued demolition of blighted properties.
The city recently scored another win by receiving national recognition for its pocket park from the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. The project was featured in “The Alliance Review,” NAPC’s quarterly national magazine, with acknowledgment of the vital support of Main Street America and Louisiana Main Street.
Foulcard said what makes the Historic Downtown Franklin Pocket Park especially significant is that it is a 100% community-funded project.
There is also yet another win for Franklin. A week or so ago, New Orleans Restoration Properties secured funding to redevelop the former Franklin Foundation Hospital into a $25.7 million affordable senior living community featuring 63 rental units. The hospital site has been vacant since 2007.
“We are deeply grateful to New Orleans Restoration Properties for choosing Franklin for this investment, recognizing the potential and promise of our community,” Foulcard said.
Ed “Tiger” Verdin, public information officer for the city of Franklin, outlined a time line of the project:
“In March 2021, New Orleans Restoration Properties initiated conversations with Ms. Beverly Domengeaux of the St. Mary Parish Council on Aging regarding the private redevelopment of the former Franklin Foundation Hospital into much needed senior apartments for residents of our region. Since that time, over the past five years, continued dialogue, careful planning, and strong collaboration have brought numerous community partners together to move this important project forward.”
Foulcard reiterated, “Again, there is no ‘I’ in team. When we all work together, we can get many, many, things done; for all of our city, and even for our parish.”