Baja St. Martin

The weather seems to be warming a bit but it’s still wonderfully cool in the mornings. That’s when I sit outside with my first cup of coffee keeping an eye on my puppy who is busily sniffing all over the yard. There has been a nice breeze almost every day. The mosquitoes are not so bad, thanks to the sprayers whom I now see and hear passing on their regular rounds.
The Oct. 6 bingo at the Belle River Center was loads of fun thanks to several of the so generous volunteers. I won’t use Faye’s full name because I didn’t ask her if it was OK, but she brought the cutest little scarecrows made of candy and gave one to all the players. Plus she donated a really terrific apron which bore the words, “This witch can cook.”
Attendance at this session was not as great as previously, but we’ve noticed that the first bingo of the month always has more people than the second. The end of the month and things are getting a bit tight at home, perhaps. Whatever, we have loads of fun.
This is such a great bunch of people – many from Stephensville and the rest from Belle River. Actually, two more Belle Riverites came Oct. 6 but not until the games had already started. They just wanted to know if they could come next time and we said of course.
I have not been walking on the levee much lately. I did take the new puppy twice but it wore me out getting her onto the trail, making sure she didn’t get scared, carrying her across the parking lot where I don’t want her to become familiar. At our first vet visit she weighed 18.2 pounds so I know why she’s such a load to carry.
Things have been pretty quiet on Hwy. 997. Tanker truck traffic continues but not an undue quantity. There is nothing happening in the spillway except sport fishing. A few [commercial] fishermen are coming by to get prop bushings put in but they all say they are on jobs or just taking life a bit easy for the time. This is the time to either go on a job or be frugal with crawfish earnings.
On Hwy. 70 at the Cypress Cove development a huge structure is going up and so far I have not found anyone who knows what it is. The building is three stories in some places and I’m wondering if it will be a small hotel. I’ve asked several people what the building will be and so far nobody knows.
A local voting commissioner was nice enough to hand out sample ballots at the last bingo, so we’ve had a chance to make some decisions ahead of the Saturday elections. I’d hate to have had to hit the polls with no idea who was running for what.
There are a lot more promotional signs along the road on Hwy. 70 in Belle River than ever before. Perhaps that means our vote is more valued than in previous years? I think that should be the case because development along Hwy. 70 between Belle River and Stephensville is greatly increasing. If it weren’t for the “borrow pits” along Hwy. 70 where dirt was taken to build the levee, I suspect there would be houses the entire distance from Belle River to Stephensville.
I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween. There are no trick-or-treaters on my road – ever. No lights, no sidewalks, no shoulder on which to walk and the homes are far apart. I used to take my girls to a neighboring subdivision.

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be e-mailed at lindacooke1939@gmail.com.