Baja St. Martin

Well, folks, tonight is the big night. The public hearing when the DNR representatives will hear a lot of people speak both for and against the proposal of FAS to have the levee here rezoned for heavy industrial. I will report on the meeting as I think others will also. Right now I’m just very nervous about the whole thing. I didn’t sleep well and woke about 4 a.m. already worrying and thinking about the event. Fortunately, perhaps, for me I have Food for Seniors this morning and then a private student so my mind will be occupied most of the day.
As I sit here in my back room, the school bus just passed. I am so glad I’m retired. I will be going to Pierre Part Middle School tomorrow to judge their Science Fair but that will be just one morning. So wonderful to not have to be up, dressed and at work at this horrible (6 a.m.) hour!
I do have to tell you that I spent several hours in the Pierre Part library where the FAS application is available to read. I’ve actually been through most of it, even though it is 400 pages.
But this time I looked only at the IT part (and I don’t know what the IT stands for) which is where the DNR Office of Conservation and FAS talked back and forth. DNR asking questions and FAS giving answers. When I left the library in a rather groggy state the one thing that stuck out in my mind that not once in 100 pages was there any mention of human beings at all. It was as though we didn’t even exist! Those of us who live on Hwy 997 seem to be non-entities, nothing, zero to these companies. I guess we’re just minor bothersome bumps on the way to FAS’s progress. It was really sad.
On a better note, it’s cold. I keep reminding myself that I left Michigan last week in minus 14 degree temperatures but I still think it’s cold here. My one sister keeps her house at about 60 degrees and it was not bad. A bit chilly around the ankles but bearable. Of course, we both sat on her couch with an electric throw over us.
I will admit we didn’t go outdoors much. When the temp was minus 5 and the wind was blowing it was terrible. Even my northern family was feeling the cold. But everyone’s car started right up much to my surprise though not theirs. My older sister has a Lexus with heated seats and that was pretty exhilarating.
I’m sure the parish was exercising caution when it closed schools last week. Weather forecasts sounded bad but the day turned out to be pretty nice. The next one was nasty. By the way, I suppose it would be inappropriate for me to urge you to vote for Stephensville Elementary School in the Courtesy of Breaux Bridge giveaway contest. I realize this column is parish-wide, but you have to know my heart is with Baja St. Martin and that includes Stephensville school.
My purple martins have not returned! I heard the scouts one day as I told you but have not seen nor heard of them since. I guess they know it’s too early. The cormorants returned for a one day visit on the river but no white pelicans this time.
I know some fishermen have been putting out trial traps, but this cold spell will slow them down and I’ve not heard any gossip about catching anything. I find the spillway water level is fairly high but that’s just from my walking path. Pull boat roads might be the only place now for boats. I have noticed lots of crawfish traps being made on porches in Belle River. Really long ones! At least five feet, maybe more!

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lcooke9417@bellsouth.net.