Louisiana Country, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, July 2026

Louisiana Country

Members and guests attend SLECA’s 88th Annual Meeting Page 18 Connection,

Board of Directors

President

Vice

Secretary/Treasurer

Cooperation PowersLouisiana

At the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, our mission is centered on supporting the electric cooperatives that serve communities across Louisiana. As a nonprofit organization, ALEC represents the electric distribution cooperatives that provide reliable electric service to nearly 1 million residents in 50 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.

Through advocacy, education, communications, safety training and member support services, ALEC works alongside our member cooperatives to help strengthen the communities they serve each day. From governmental and regulatory affairs to employee and director education programs, our resources and support are designed to help keep cooperatives operating efficiently and effectively.

Our member cooperatives include Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Claiborne Electric Cooperative, DEMCO, Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, Panola-Harrison Electric Cooperative and Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative.

One of the most important roles cooperatives play is supporting one another during times of need. Through coordinated storm restoration and mutual- aid efforts, Louisiana’s electric cooperatives work together, and alongside a nationwide network of more than 900 electric cooperatives, to restore power safely and as quickly as possible following severe weather events. This is why, during storm recovery, you may notice crews from unfamiliar cooperatives working in

your community. Those crews are part of the cooperative network answering the call to help neighbors in need.

Electric cooperatives across the country are guided by the same Seven Cooperative Principles, with a shared commitment to service, community and cooperation. At ALEC, we are proud to support the cooperative spirit that continues to power Louisiana communities every day. 

COOPS HEAD TO Capitol Hi

“You can’t start rebuilding a community until the power is restored,” says Matt Peters, general manager of South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association.

In April, electric cooperative board members and general managers traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for resources and policy reforms needed to help communities recover after disasters. During meetings with Reps. Cleo Fields and Clay Higgins, cooperative leaders discussed key issues impacting their communities, including FEMA reform to expedite disaster reimbursements, permitting reform, Rural Utilities Service loan funding, and the need for additional resources to restore power and rebuild after major storms.

“When a storm hits, we bring normalcy and hope of rebuilding, but that comes at a cost,” Matt says.

Cooperative leaders continued their advocacy efforts throughout the week, representing the needs of Louisiana’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. 

“ You can’t start rebuilding a community until the power is restored.”

 MATT PETERS, SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION GENERAL MANAGER

SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 4037, Houma, LA 70361

2028 Coteau Road, Hwy. 660, Houma, LA 70364

985-876-6880

Amelia branch office: 2903 Lake Palourde Road Morgan City, LA 70380 985-631-3605

www.sleca.com

STAFF

Matthew Peters | General Manager

Brett Ledet | Assistant General Manager and Manager of Engineering

Shannon Soudelier | Operations Superintendent

Sandi Click | Manager of Finance

Jordy Bourg | Manager of Purchasing

Abigail Hover | Manager of Member Services

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Luke | President | 985-855-4106

Roger Dale DeHart | Vice President | 985-860-1078

Larry Daigle | Secretary | 985-870-1121

Terry Trahan | Treasurer | 985-804-7335

Ivan Acosta | 985-397-3341

Trevor Benoit | 985-498-0602

Sandra Boudreaux | 985-859-3526

Abby Rivet LeBlanc | 985-665-6974

Betty Jean Doyle | 985-709-4396

Lloyd Gibson | Board Adviser | 985-209-3765

Volume 43, Issue 4

Louisiana Country (USPS 473-180) is published bimonthly by the Association of Louisiana Electric Co-ops Inc., 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, in partnership with Pioneer Utility Resources.

Annual subscriptions: Members $2.79. Nonmembers $5.

Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, and additional mailing offices.

Prepared Together Hurricane season readiness

As hurricane season approaches, preparedness is a shared responsibility between South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association and the members we proudly serve.

While storms can be unpredictable, one thing remains constant—SLECA is prepared and ready to always respond.

Long before severe weather threats, our crews actively prepare by maintaining equipment, monitoring weather conditions, reviewing emergency response plans and ensuring resources are in place for a quick response. Our commitment is to restore power as safely and efficiently as possible once conditions allow.

We encourage members to prepare early by stocking emergency supplies such as water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, medications, phone chargers and charged battery packs. Members who rely on electrically powered medical equipment should have a backup plan in place. It’s also important to secure outdoor items, so they don’t become flying projectiles during high winds.

If you use a generator, operate it safely and never connect it directly to your home’s electrical system unless it is installed by a qualified professional. Improper generator use can create dangerous backfeed conditions for utility crews.

When storms impact our area, restoration efforts begin as soon as conditions are safe. While power outages can be frustrating, all our employees work extremely hard to restore service as safely and quickly as possible. 211761001

Hurricane season is a reminder that preparation makes all the difference. At SLECA, we stand ready to serve our communities before, during and after the storm.

Stay safe, stay prepared and know that we’ll be ready when you need us.

SLECA Sweepstakes

SLECA o ices are closed Friday, July 3, in observance of The Fourth of July.

Did you know SLECA gives away cash just for reading Louisiana Country In each issue, four account numbers are randomly selected using a computer program and hidden in articles on SLECA’s pages (6, 7, 9, 16, 18 and 19). If you see your account number, call SLECA and win $25 cash or have the money applied to your bill. If you are not reading Louisiana Country from cover to cover, you’re missing out on great articles and the chance to win money.

Directors Reelected to Board

ROGER DALE DEHART

District 5 | Vice President

Board President David Luke was a wholesale seafood processor for more than 35 years. The Dulac native began working in seafood processing as a boy in his father’s plant, Luke Seafood. He and wife Elaine are former owners of D’Luke’s Seafood Inc. in Dulac, and former St. Michael Ice & Fuel in Biloxi, Mississippi.

A lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 4752 Rifle Team and the 2nd Marine Division Association, Luke is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 7722, the Grand Caillou Volunteer Fire Department and Holy Family Catholic Church Finance Council. He also volunteers at Holy Family Catholic Church.

He has received the Bishop Hannon St. Louis Cathedral award and the St. Francis Co-Cathedral Bishop award. Luke was also inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame for Supporting Industry Tradesman and Commercial Seafood Processing Company, St. Michael’s Fuel and Ice, at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi. Luke represents District 4, which consists of the Grand Caillou and Dulac areas.

Dularge native and Board Vice President Roger Dale DeHart represents District 5, covering all of Bayou Dularge and Ashland North Subdivision.

Roger represents SLECA as a board member for the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperative Inc., and also serves as vice president on ALEC’s Executive Committee, as chairman on the 501c3 Hurricane Relief Committee, and as a board member of 1803 Electric Cooperative, our cooperative G&T.

In addition to serving SLECA, Roger serves his community as a member of the Terrebonne Parish School Board, a position he’s had for the past 35 years. Previously, he served as a commissioner for Fire District 10.

Roger enjoys what he does and takes all his commitments seriously.

District 6

Betty Jean Doyle was born in New Orleans and has been a resident of Houma for more than 60 years.

Reelected to the board in April, Betty Jean is active in the community and has volunteered her services at various organizations over the years.

For 25 years, she was a volunteer at Terrebonne General Medical Center.

Betty Jean is the mother of four boys and one girl, and she is a grandmother of nine and greatgrandmother of two. When her children were young, she was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Leader. Betty Jean was truly invested in her children’s education and outside activities.

She is honored to serve on the SLECA Board of Directors.

Co-op s serve up louisiana fl avor at the Capitol

The Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives and members hosted the Taste of Louisiana Cookout for elected officials in May. The afternoon was spent at the Capitol meeting with legislators, having meaningful conversations while sharing the cooperative story and ending with some Louisiana home cooking.

Louisiana co-op leaders discuss issues impacting the communities they serve with legislators in Baton Rouge. From left are state Rep. Brian Leonard Glorioso, WSTE CEO Dane Hocott, state Reps. John Wyble, Stephanie H. Berault and Kim Carver, WSTE Manager of Governmental Affairs Johnny Bruhl, ALEC CEO Aarron Graham, state Rep. Peter F. Egan Sr. and ALEC lobbyist Keli Williams.

ABOVE: From left are DEMCO Board Director Richard Sitman, state Rep. Daryl Adams, DEMCO Board President Danny Berthelot and DEMCO Board Director Steve Irving. LEFT: Louisiana electric cooperative general managers gather during the Taste of Louisiana Cookout. Pictured, from left, are, back row: Matt Peters, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association; Randy Pierce, DEMCO; Mike Marcotte, Claiborne Electric; Aarron Graham, Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives; Mike Viator, Beauregard Electric Cooperative Inc.; and Gerald Huffman, Concordia Electric Cooperative. Front row, from left, are Craig Magruder, Pointe Coupee Electric; Ron Repsher, 1803 Electric Cooperative; Mike Heinen, Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative; and Dane Hocott, Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative.

SLECA Awards Scholarships to 10 Students

In keeping with tradition, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association has awarded 10 students $500 each to help subsidize their college expenses. Congratulations to all the graduates.

Lafourche Parish resident Ella Arnette is a graduate of Central Lafourche High School. She was a member of multiple clubs, including National Honor Society, and she volunteers for numerous groups. She plans to major in mechanical engineering at Louisiana State University.

Terrebonne Parish resident Irelyn Creech is a graduate of Terrebonne High School. She was a member of multiple clubs, including National Honor Society, and she volunteers for numerous groups. She plans to major in vocal music education.

Terrebonne Parish resident William DeRoche is a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School. He was a member of the football, basketball, golf, and track and field teams and multiple clubs, including National Honor Society, and he volunteers for numerous groups. He plans to major in engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 201114004

Terrebonne Parish resident Colby Guidry is a graduate of H.L. Bourgeois High School. He was a member of the football and soccer teams and multiple clubs, including National Honor Society and Beta Club, and he volunteers for numerous groups. He plans to major in nursing at Nicholls State University.

Terrebonne Parish resident Matthew Kinnard is a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School. He was a member of the football, basketball and track teams, band, choir and multiple clubs, including National Honor Society; and he volunteers for numerous groups. Matthew plans to major in chemistry at University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Lafourche Parish resident Anthony

Plaisance is a graduate of Central Lafourche High School. He participated in FFA, 4-H and Student Council. Anthony was a member of multiple clubs, including National Honor Society, and he volunteers for numerous groups. He plans to major in environmental management systems at Louisiana State University.

Lafourche Parish resident Carter Ratcliff is a graduate of Central Lafourche High School. He was a member of the cross country and track and field teams, marching and concert bands, National Honor Society, and he volunteers for numerous groups. Carter plans to major in computer engineering at Louisiana State University.

Terrebonne Parish resident Makayla Rhodes is a homeschool graduate. She is a recipient of many awards and accolades, such as Terrebonne Parish 69th American Legion Post 31’s Teenager of the Year; has placed in 4-H competitions; was a member of multiple clubs, including Beta; and volunteers for numerous groups. Makayla was chosen to draw live at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. She plans to major in environmental science coastal studies and art at Fletcher Technical Community College.

Terrebonne Parish resident Sylie Scott is a graduate of Ellender Memorial High School. Sylie was a member of multiple clubs, including National Honor Society, and she volunteers for numerous groups. She plans to major in elementary education at Louisiana State University.

St. Mary Parish resident Zoie Scully is a graduate of Central Catholic High School. She was on the volleyball, basketball, softball and cheer teams and a member of multiple clubs, including National Honor Society, 4-H and Beta, and she volunteers for numerous groups. Zoie plans to major in biology-veterinary science at Nicholls State University. n

By Drew Woolley

The living expression of America’s most enduring symbols &

Every nation tells stories about itself. In the United States, those narratives are often woven into symbols we encounter every day just as much as they are spoken out loud. It might be a flag folded at a funeral, an eagle stamped onto an official seal or a song sung before a ballgame.

As we celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary, historians, collectors and scholars are all taking a closer look at the symbols we adopted and the meanings they still carry today.

For the Love of Old Glory

The American flag has always had a special family connection for Chris Garza. Half of his family members can trace their lineage to Maryland’s founders, and almost every

one of them has served in the military. But watching his grandfathers as a child had a particular impact on him.

“I kind of idolized them, and they both did their own daily routines of raising and lowering the flag,” Chris says. “They were fun, outgoing guys. But every day, they became very serious when they handled the flag. That really showed me how important it was as a symbol.”

When he was 8, Chris saw an old 13-star flag at a yard sale and had to have it. Looking back now, he suspects he was trying to impress his grandfathers. But it also proved to be the first step in a lifelong obsession. Now the executive director of Troutdale Historical Society in Oregon, Chris has overseen three museums and collected more than 300 American flags in the past 35 years.

The most precious to him is the flag with which one of his grandfathers was meant to be buried. At the last second, his grandmother pulled the flag from the casket and gave it to Chris, who has held it dear ever since. Another favorite is an early flag that represented the southern region of Texas, where much of Chris’ Indigenous family comes from, before the state adopted the design it uses today.

While the American flag’s design has evolved over time, Chris is particularly drawn to the idea that it has served as a unifying image throughout history.

“To me, it is the only thing capable of binding us all together,” he says. “It’s the one thing that is bigger than our differences of religion, politics or race.”

As a historian, Chris also hopes the flag reminds everyone in the United

States why the country formed and what it took to get there. It will always be a symbol of freedom. But, for him, it is also a call to earn that freedom.

“It’s a symbol of when oppression becomes so strong and rampant that it forces people to step back and reevaluate— to look at life, our government and our communities,” he says. “Sometimes, those things need to change. That’s what the flag means to me, working to change for the better.”

A Living Symbol

upsetting revelation for someone who had dedicated much of his life to collecting depictions of the American icon, going back to 1966 when he was drafted into the Army.

“I was issued a uniform that had buttons with the Great Seal on my dress uniform,” Preston says. “Two years later, when I exited the Army, I cut off those buttons with the eagles on them and wear them to this day on my blue blazers. I’ve been wearing them now for 60 years.”

His acquisitions expanded first with postcards and stamps, then later with the help of eBay and a team of pickers around the country who sent him items of interest. Today, Preston’s collection of more than

While the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, many Americans may be surprised to learn this is only the second year that one of its most recognizable symbols has been official. In researching his 2019 book, “American Eagle: A Visual History of Our National Emblem,” Preston Cook was shocked to learn the United States had never actually named a national bird.

“We had no national bird for 248 years,” he says. “It seemed like I was the only person in the country who knew, because it was such a surprise to everyone I

It was an especially

THE BETSY ROSS FLAG

While lore holds that Betsy Ross designed the first American flag, there is no hard evidence pointing to any single designer. But, as the first seamstress to stitch the flag together, Historian Chris Garza says she may have influenced some of its details.

One of Chris’ favorite stories is when George Washington, a Freemason, approached Ross about making the flag, he suggested the stars have six points, as is common in masonic symbolism. Ross quickly noted that if they wanted to mass-produce the flag, fivepointed stars were much more efficient.

To prove it, she pulled out a small square of fabric, made a few quick folds and one simple cut, and handed him a perfect star. Washington was convinced, and the stars on the flag have had five points ever since.

FLY YOUR FLAG

40,000 eagle-themed items is on display at National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. It includes historical artifacts, including buttons worn by George Washington and a Civil War knife, as well as pop culture objects, such as sports memorabilia and an Andy Warhol print.

The eagle’s symbolic appeal in so many different settings has always been one of its most interesting features for Preston.

“It’s a symbol people turn to in times of both peace and distress,” he says. “The image of it on the Great Seal has changed from being kind of scrawny and chickenlegged to more of a full-fledged eagle. Around the 1820s, it was first used by political campaigns to show patriotism. So, it has changed over the years, but it’s remained constant throughout our history.”

As a flag historian and restorer, Chris Garza, executive director of Troutdale Historical Society in Oregon, regularly encounters misconceptions about flag etiquette. A common one he shared as a child was that the flag must be destroyed if it touches the ground. He can still remember dropping the flag once while lowering it for his grandfather.

For centuries, that presence has led many Americans to identify the bald eagle as the country’s national bird. Once his book was complete, Preston turned his attention to putting a bill in front of Congress that would finally make official what everyone had always assumed.

He sent a draft to U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad, whose district includes Wabasha, as well as Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The two coordinated on the bill, which unanimously passed in both houses of Congress before President Joe Biden signed it into law in 2024.

Preston has no doubt the work was worth it. It permanently enshrines what many Americans have long felt about the bald eagle.

historian teaching at the University of Michigan for the past 20 years, he has often led an introductory class on American music. His favorite way to kick it off is with Jimi Hendrix’s 1969 performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock.

“It brings you immediately into some of the complexities around the anthem,” Mark says. “Is there a single, appropriate way to play it? Is it a protest or burning the flag through music? Hendrix was also a member of the 101st Airborne, and aspects of the performance are quite patriotic, so is it saying something more textured?”

Those questions led him down a rabbit hole that culminated in his 2022 book, “O Say Can You Hear?: A Cultural Biography of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’” Francis Scott Key’s lyrics, written after the bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, go on for four verses. Only the first is typically sung for the anthem, building to the final line, “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave/O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

While it is often performed with an exclamation point at the end, Mark considers the question it asks to be crucial. At the time the anthem was penned, the country had faced some of its worst defeats. Key’s vision of a bold and proud nation wasn’t something he was seeing but a hope for the future.

“Today, I think that question asks us if we are brave enough to live up to that vision,” Mark says. “Do we have the courage to be a country that celebrates liberty and justice for all? I think it has the potential to make the anthem something urgent and contemporary. It’s a verb, rather than a noun.”

“I thought it was the end of my life,” Chris says. “But he pulled me aside and explained that as long as it isn’t tattered, it can always be cleaned and reflown. That moment of relief really stuck with me.”

Another common mistake is flying the flag at night. To maintain respect and visibility, the flag should either be illuminated at night or taken down at sunset and raised again in the morning.

“For many years, it was our only living symbol,” Preston says. “If you see one flying or fishing, it’s such an amazing bird. It means so much to so many people. It means freedom and liberty and power and independence and family. People just don’t get tired of seeing it, and I don’t think there’s any other symbol of America that has that kind of enthusiasm.”

The Call to Citizenship

If the eagle is the American symbol that generates the most excitement, Mark Clague believes the national anthem is the most dynamic. As a musician and musical

When President Herbert Hoover officially signed an act of Congress making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the U.S. national anthem in 1931, it—much like the eagle—was a recognition of something that had already been true for many Americans. The song was used as a recruiting tune for the Union Army in the Civil War and was often treated as a de facto national anthem during the

In some ways, the song is sort of democracy in action. We made the anthem by using it.

Spanish-American War and World War I.

“I think that makes it powerful,” Mark says. “In some ways, the song is sort of democracy in action. We made the anthem by using it. And for the same reason, changing it would be really hard. You could change the law, but it wouldn’t change how people feel.”

The music itself requires the performer to sing the anthem to life with dramatic highs and lows that take the same commitment the lyrics demand. Mark’s hope is that when people hear it, the

— Mark Clague

anthem won’t just serve as a celebration but also a call to action.

“It feels like the anthem is especially urgent right now,” he says. “U.S. democracy has really been built on people getting involved. Voting, sure, but also being informed, volunteering and lifting a hand to help your neighbor. Being patriotic is something you have to do and earn, rather than just something you have. And I think that call to citizenship is one of the coolest things about the anthem.” 

STARSPANGLED SPINOFFS

While the roots of the national anthem’s lyrics are decidedly American, the music originated with Anacreontic Society, a musicians’ club in London.

Since the tune struck a chord in the United States, Mark Clague, a music historian teaching at the University of Michigan, estimates there have been more than 600 sets of lyrics applied to that melody, on subjects as varied as farm work, unionization and women’s suffrage.

“It’s interesting to see how many different words fit the melody,” he says. “It really supports the notion that ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is not just one iconic thing but kind

Anniversary

Celebrations

States showcase their unique contributions

By Dianna Troyer

In honor of the United States Semiquincentennial—a fancy name for the nation’s 250th anniversary—each state is contributing to the legacy and future of the country through national and statewide initiatives.

Some states are contributing to a stainless steel time capsule that will be buried July 4 at Independence National

Historical Park in Philadelphia, between the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Others will have booths at the Great American State Fair, scheduled for June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Within each state, an America250 Commission has organized events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

According to the America250 Commission’s website, “The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future.”

For the time capsule, state commissions feature their residents’ artistry and ideals with the constraint that the objects have to fit into an archival box measuring 6-by-5-by-2 inches.

Here’s a preview of how some states are highlighting their unique contributions to our nation:

ALASKA

A print of a flag designed by a member of the Indigenous people of the Aleutian Islands represents Alaska. In 1927, Benny Benson, a 14-year-old Unangax orphan, won a contest to design the flag for the then-territory of Alaska.

“The blue field is for the Alaskan sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower,” he wrote. “The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly state in the union. The dipper is for the great bear, symbolizing strength.”

A copy of an 1875 map of New Archangel is also included. After Russia sold the Alaska territory to the United States, the town was renamed Sitka.

ARIZONA

Arizonans provided three coins, two letters and a commemorative copper ingot featuring a stamped Arizona America250 logo for the time capsule.

With laser nano-etching, a stainless steel coin preserves the full text and signatures of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including all amendments.

“It represents both America’s foundational democratic principles and modern efforts to preserve them for future generations,” according to America250 Arizona Commission. An Arizona quarter, minted in 2008, depicts the Grand Canyon

and a saguaro cactus. A steel America250 commemorative coin features symbolic imagery reflecting freedom, time and civic responsibility.

An archival letter lists the names of the members of the Arizona America250 Commission. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes also wrote a letter reflecting on Arizona’s civic values, democratic institutions and responsibilities.

CALIFORNIA

On July 4, a family-friendly concert is planned in Los Angeles with major artists and a livestream audience. America250 planners encourage residents to build community by participating in America’s Potluck on July 5, an opportunity for neighbors to join one another to share a communal meal.

FLORIDA

At the Great American State Fair, the Florida250 Commission plans to create an old Spanish Fort with coquina brick walls, authentic sounds and cannon fire.

Within the state, the Florida Freedom Tour is traveling in two 18-wheeler trucks hauling the America250FL exhibits from the Museum of Florida History. One exhibit covers the state’s biggest battle during the Revolutionary War, the Siege of Pensacola, a two-month battle in 1781 when the Spanish prevented the British from gaining control of Western Florida.

IDAHO

Idaho’s state gemstone, the star garnet, “represents Idaho’s natural richness and geological heritage. Its distinctive starlike reflection makes it a fitting and

Idaho’s state gem is its contribution to the time capsule.

enduring symbol of the state’s rugged landscape and connection to the land,” according to America250 in Idaho planners.

Along with the gemstone, Gov. Brad Little wrote a letter to future generations, reflecting on Idaho’s history and values.

LOUISIANA

The Historic New Orleans Collection, at 520 Royal St., will have interactive 3D reconstructions of the defining moments of the American Revolution. Events include the Boston Tea Party, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, victory at Yorktown and treaty signing in Versailles.

MONTANA

Karis Jackson depicted Montana’s unique traits in beaded artwork shaped like the state.

The Browning artist incorporated the colors of the state flag, the mountains and prairies that define the state’s landscapes, the state flower—the bitterroot—and the state bird—the western meadowlark.

In the center of the design, Karis, an Apsáalooke/Arikara/ Hidatsa artist, beaded a bison. She says it’s “an animal of enduring significance to the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home since time immemorial.”

NEVADA

In Nevada, residents and tribal members are recording oral histories for a podcast and public archive, according to Nevada250 planners.

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico’s pavilion at the Great American State Fair, “will present New Mexico as an intersection of cultures, history, landscape and creativity,” says Daniel Zillman, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs communications director.

OREGON

Lillian Pitt, a Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama artist, made a ceramic pin depicting a tribal petroglyph and pictograph, a well-known

image high on a mountain along the Columbia River.

“Under the oral traditions of tribes along the river, She Who Watches represents Tsagaglalal, a wise and powerful chief who was transformed to stone and continues to keep vigil over her people and the river,” according to the America 250 Oregon Commission.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Among The Charleston Museum artifacts are a .75-caliber “Brown Bess” musket used during the revolution.

Several special exhibits celebrate South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution.

A new exhibit, “Ringleaders of Rebellion,” is at The Charleston Museum, the first museum in the Colonies founded Jan. 12, 1773. Among the artifacts are a .75-caliber Brown Bess musket used during the Revolutionary War.

An immersive Revolutionary War exhibition at the state fair will remain up for several years. A display emphasizes that South Carolina was the first colony to protest tea taxation on Dec. 3, 1773, 13 days before the infamous Boston Tea Party.

TENNESSEE

Knoxville-based designer Justin Helton created a poster entitled “Original Frontier.”

“From Tennessee’s rich agricultural history to its iconic musical contributions to its role in westward expansion, the Civil Rights Movement and women’s suffrage, the poster represents Tennessee’s part in shaping American culture, economy, and democracy,” according to Tennessee America 250 planners.

ABOVE: The poster “Original Frontier” showcases Tennessee’s music, agriculture and westward expansion.

WASHINGTON

Gov. Bob Ferguson’s proclamation and Lt. Gov. Denny Heck’s letter will be put in the capsule. The governor wrote about the mission of the Washington State Historical Society. Heck wrote about democracy and finding common ground between Washingtonians. 

For more information about national, state and local celebrations, visit america250.org.

Trip of a Lifetime

South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association is proud to recognize this year’s Youth Tour winners, selected from students across our service area to represent our cooperative in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and local electric cooperatives, this unforgettable experience gives students the opportunity to explore our nation’s

capital, learn about leadership and government, and connect with peers from across the country.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients Ashton Pierce, a sophomore at Central Lafourche High School, and Evan Malbrough, a sophomore at H.L. Bourgeois High School.

We are proud of these outstanding young men and wish them a memorable and rewarding trip! n

Hurricane Survival Kit

Do you know what you’ll need if a hurricane hits and you’re without power? A wellprepared emergency kit could save your life and protect your family.

While each family’s needs vary, the items listed here provide a solid foundation for assembling your own survival kit.

Basic supplies

Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum three-day supply)

Food: Nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items (minimum three-day supply)

Manual can opener

Flashlight

Battery-powered or hand-cranked NOAA weather radio

Extra batteries

First-aid kit

Medications: Seven-day supply, plus necessary medical items

Multipurpose tool

Sanitation and personal hygiene supplies

Important documents: Copies of medication lists, medical histories, birth certificates, health insurance cards and other critical records

Cellphone chargers and a power bank

Family and emergency contact information

Extra cash

Emergency blanket

Make sure to customize your kit to address specific health, dietary or safety needs unique to your family. n

CONNECTION, CELEBRATION

Members and guests attend SLECA’s 88th Annual Meeting

South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association was proud to welcome members and guests to its 88th Annual Membership Meeting on April 17 at the Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center in Houma.

With a good turnout, the meeting was an opportunity to come together as a cooperative family, celebrate accomplishments, and reflect on the challenges and progress of the past year. 30469001

During his address, General Manager Matthew Peters shared updates on several important topics affecting the cooperative and its future. While rising material costs, hurricane recovery efforts and the ongoing lake line issue continue to present challenges, SLECA remains committed to its mission of providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity for its members—keeping the membership its main priority.

Matthew also shared news about SLECA’s successful transition to a new wholesale power partnership with 1803 Electric Cooperative, which helped reduce wholesale power costs and keep SLECA’s rates among the lowest in Louisiana. Looking toward the future, he announced exciting Federal Emergency Management Agency grant funding to help strengthen the cooperative’s electric system and improve storm resilience for critical community infrastructures.

The evening also included music from the HoumaTerrebonne Community Band, the National Anthem performed by SLECA Director Trevor Benoit, and a special tribute honoring SLECA employees. 65974002

John St. Marie delivered a patriotic performance, and the Central Lafourche High School JROTC presented the colors.

SLECA Assistant Manager Brett Ledet recognized the 2026 cooperative’s Washington Youth Tour winners and scholarship recipients. These students were honored for their achievements, showcasing SLECA’s continued commitment to supporting and investing in the next generation of leaders in the community.

Year after year, the Annual Membership Meeting remains a cherished tradition—a time to connect with members, celebrate community and look ahead with confidence. Through every challenge, the SLECA Board of Directors, employees and management always come back to a simple promise: delivering safe, reliable power at the lowest possible cost to you, your families and the community we all call home.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s event such a success. We look forward to seeing you again next year. n

AND COMMUNITY

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Member Services Supervisor Brittanie Dulantis, left, and Safety and Training Coordinator Neal Foret serve food April 17 at South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association’s 88th Annual Membership Meeting. SLECA directors, from left, Ivan Acosta, Abby LeBlanc, Trevor Benoit and Terry Trahan take their seat in front of members during the meeting. From left, Roger Dale DeHart, David Luke and Betty Jean Doyle direct Terrebonne Parish Cleark of Court Jodie Burton during the swearing in. The Central Lafourche High School JROTC presents the colors. Scholarship recipients accept their plaques. Back row, from left, are SLECA General Manager Matthew Peters, Ella Arnette, Carter Ratcliff, Matthew Kinnard, William DeRoche and Brett Ledet, assistant general manager and manager of engineering; and front row, from left, are Makayla Rhodes, Irelyn Creech and Sylie Scott. Members arrive at the annual meeting. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SLECA

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PaigeSuccess of

A Denham Springs baker built a business in her 20s

By Cheré Coen

Most bakers know that what goes into the oven may not emerge the way they expect. Life sometimes works that way, too. Bakery owner Paige Ma, of Denham Springs, knows that lesson well—although her baked goods were not the surprise. It all started in 2020 during the pandemic. When the University of Louisiana at Lafayette shut down, Paige had time on her hands from studying microbiology and chemistry.

“I was really bored, and I loved to bake,” she says.

She used her mother’s kitchen to make cakes for her friends, who couldn’t source them from their local bakeries and grocery stores, for special events such as birthdays. Word quickly spread, and Paige suddenly had a side business.

When ULL reopened, she drove to Lafayette for her week of studies, then came home to Denham Springs on the weekends to fill a growing list of baking orders. The orders grew to include macarons and occasional cupcakes, but custom cakes still took center stage.

“I was pretty much known as Cakes From Home,” she says.

A Social Media Sensation

Paige began posting her baking prowess on TikTok, including how-to videos for specific recipes and videos about a day in the life and behind-thescenes with a home baker. Her videos became popular and her social media numbers blew up along with her business.

After a few years of juggling school and a home side hustle, the opportunity to open a storefront presented itself. A friend found an established bakery for sale after the owner retired, and Paige took the leap to create Paige’s Pantry. Paige believes that much of her early success stemmed from her 200,000plus TikTok followers.

“I’d like to say TikTok made my first storefront,” she says with a laugh. “It was the perfect opportunity to step into and open the door.”

Paige missed graduating with a microbiology degree by one class because her “storefront took over,” but she hopes to return to ULL to finish her degree, even though she now knows she no longer wants to pursue that career.

“There’s actually a scientific reasoning behind cooking, so it’s good to know microbiology, but I won’t be doing it,” she says.

Opportunity Abounds

Not even a year after opening her first store, another opportunity surfaced. Paige’s accountant saw a place for rent in the Antique Village, an area of Denham Springs that receives good foot traffic and offers a variety of complements to Paige’s Pantry, including a coffee shop across the street.

“I had no intention of moving,” Paige says of the second location. “Opening the first store was so stressful. But it was my dream to have a store in the Antique Village.”

And so, Paige’s Pantry moved into town, allowing customers more square footage plus a larger kitchen and double oven for Paige’s creations. For this incarnation of Paige’s Pantry, she called the shots on store decor and furnishings.

“I was able to make my own decisions,” she says. “It’s so much better.”

she has time. In the summer, she hosts a children’s camp where kids decorate cookies, create a cookie recipe, make cakes and help customers. Many times, they just love following Paige around the store, she adds.

With studies, baking and opening a store, Paige still had time to marry her best friend, Brandon, and be a dog mom to Ammo and Kato. Paige’s TikTok videos show just how much time goes into running a bakery business with a staff of seven and a manager.

“People don’t realize how much work goes into it and how hard it really is,” she says.

For those considering doing the same, she recommends learning every aspect of a business, not just what goes into an oven, because you’ll never know what might come out.

“Make sure you love more than just baking,” she says. 

Now 27, Paige has expanded her business to include a variety of cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, lemon bars, Oreo bars and, on the weekends, cinnamon rolls, among other sweet creations. She branched out into serving breakfast and lunch items such as biscuits and croissants, both plain and as breakfast sandwiches, along with lunch classics such as a chicken salad croissant and pimento grilled cheese. The savory items use stock from the bakery.

“I didn’t want to be a lunch place but more a bakery selling baked goods,” she says.

Sharing Skills

Paige’s Pantry also offers a two-hour cake baking class called Piping with Paige when

PLANNER Louisiana

FRANKLINTON

July 10–11

Washington Parish Watermelon Festival

Celebrate local agriculture and the parish’s rich watermelon-growing heritage. Activities take place at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. This year’s festival features stage acts, the traditional watermelon auction and tasting, a car show, a watermelon-eating and seed-spitting contest and live music from Bag of Donuts Friday night and Magnolia Rising on Saturday night. Admission to the festival is free. wpwatermelonfestival.org

GRAND CANE

July 12

Balloons Over DeSoto

This free-to-enter community event features tethered hot air balloon rides, a spectacular balloon glow and a fireworks display, held at C.E. “Rusty” Williams Airport in DeSoto Parish. Attendees can enjoy children’s activities, food vendors, live music and a virtual reality gaming truck. Gates open at 4 p.m., and festivities run until 10 p.m. Free parking and a free shuttle service are available. discoverdesoto.com

LAKE CHARLES

July 24-25

Marshland Festival

This festival, originating more than 30 years ago in the coastal community of Hackberry, has grown into one of Southwest Louisiana’s most beloved celebrations of Cajun and Zydeco music. Held indoors and air-conditioned at Lake Charles Event Center, the two-day festival features local Southwest Louisiana artists alongside nationally recognized performers, delicious food booths, and arts and crafts shopping. Enjoy a cool, festive refuge in the summer heat. visitlakecharles.org

All ages can find something new and exciting around every corner of the state. Filled with rich history, abundant natural beauty and diverse events all year, Louisiana has fun options for everyone.

MORGAN CITY

July 24-25

Bayou BBQ Bash

This Barbecue Competitors Alliance-sanctioned State Championship BBQ competition is held at Second Street and Federal Avenue in downtown Morgan City, hosted by the St. Mary Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Teams from across the state and beyond compete in categories including brisket, ribs and chicken, while the public enjoys live music, arts and crafts vendors, food, and a Kids Q competition. All proceeds benefit Marine Corps League charitable programs in the community. cajuncoast.com

SPRINGFIELD

Aug. 8

“I Found the Rougarou!” at Tickfaw State Park

On the second Saturday of every month, Tickfaw State Park invites children ages 6–14 to hunt for the legendary Rougarou lurking somewhere along the park’s trails and common areas. Kids and their families have from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to find the creature, snap a photo as proof and return to the entrance station. The fastest finder is crowned that month’s Legendary Hunter of the Rougarou. Day use fees of $3 per person apply; children 3 and younger and seniors 62 and older are free. lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/tickfaw-state-park

GUEYDAN

Aug. 27-30

50th Annual Gueydan Duck Festival

Four days of festivities in downtown Gueydan celebrate this event’s golden anniversary. Families travel from across the state to enjoy live entertainment, duck- and goose-calling contests, dog trials, skeet shooting, outdoor cooking contests, and a large carnival. This year’s headliners are country legend Tracy Byrd on Friday, Aug. 28, and Louisiana icon Wayne Toups on Saturday, Aug. 29. duckfestival.org

HOW TO INCLUDE UPCOMING EVENTS

Want to share a family-friendly event with Louisiana readers? Enter details at tinyurl.com/LouisianaPlanner or scan the QR code with your smartphone camera for easy access. Make sure to submit September/October events by July 31 (due to press deadline). Events are published as space allows.