Independence Bowl shines bright

The glow of Independence Stadium in Shreveport filled with bowl game fans was a great sight Sunday night. All gathered to see Alabama and Colorado fight for bragging rights following their 6-6 seasons.
'Bama never gave up their early lead. They won 30-24.
What started out as a 'Bama blowout though turned into a game. Colorado's offense finally showed up in the second half and started a run that kept fans worried and hopeful until 2 minutes remained.
Relive the game and review The Times coverage at the Independence Bowl site (located at shreveporttimes.com).

Notes for attending next year:
1. Use the parking shuttles available at area shopping malls. Save yourself the hassle of parking and traffic. The shuttle remained efficient and easy-to-use.
2. If you have bleacher tickets, be prepared to move from assigned seating. People standing and rabble rousers make it hard to watch the game, and shifting to open seats with an open view really isn't a problem after the first quarter.
3. Review the weather carefully. As the temperature dropped Sunday, gloves, jackets and blankets were a godsend watching sweatshirt-clad fans shiver.
4. Consider the crowd. Children will be exposed to cursing and drinking. This is not a major problem until profanity is directed back at the crowd. Some college-aged folks act untamed, and talking reason to them will yield little good. Move again to keep the experience fun.

Multiple photo galleries of fans and action are ready for viewing (sampling of images above right).

No more computer bugs in 2008

As each of us compile our New Year’s resolutions, consider Times reporter Alexandyr Kent’s collection of technology resolutions. Computer guru Thomas Avallone offers compelling testimony to motivate better computer habits, "I've had bugs crawl out of laptops.”

Listed today:
1. De-clutter the desktop
2. Organize your Inbox
3. Audit bookmarks, pictures, music files and buddy lists
4. Smoking is bad for computers, too
5. Keep crumbs and critters at bay
6. Reduce the wire count
7. Secure Wi-Fi home network
8. Update virus software regularly
9. Back up files regularly
10. Consolidate address books

We should note that spraying a can of Raid into a computer to debug is not recommended.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and all that jazz

Joy Fund beginning to make a difference

Thanks to the progress made collecting Joy Fund donations (totaling $72,762.30 at the hour of this post), holiday giving projects are starting to receive the support they need.

1. Caddo Council on Aging is preparing meals for 1000 homebound seniors and goody bags for seniors at eleven sites.
2. Joy Home for Boys will buy shoes for 22 boys and provide a Christmas event.
3. Johnny Gray Jones Regional Shelter will purchase Christmas gifts for the youth housed at the shelter who ordinarily would not have a Christmas at all.
4. Bossier Council on Aging is delivering Christmas stockings to 500 homebound clients.
5. Biedenharn Center for Women’s Issues will help make Christmas better for 12 women and 16 children.
6. Community Support Programs will provide toys and gifts for abused and neglected children and teenagers.

Other Joy Fund projects include efforts by the Salvation Army; Providence House; Northwest Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy; Volunteers of America of North Louisiana; Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal; MLK Health Center and The Philadelphia Center.

As annual givers understand, we give a major portion of the fund to the Salvation Army every year ($52K in 2006), buying clothes, blankets, food and gifts for the homeless and underprivileged they serve. This year they will provide gifts for 2,000 families. The Providence House and Volunteers of America have received as much as $20K in good years, bringing Christmas toys and gifts to families and children in their care programs (The after-school LightHouse program is one example). The Philadelphia Center will provide a special event/toys for children touched by AIDS.

Reaching our goal ($100K) will serve the holiday projects mentioned. Exceeding the goal allows some additional projects to receive help just like last year.

More requests keep coming. I have a folder of not-yet-funded events and toy projects for underprivileged children served by churches and agencies in our coverage area.

Please continue to give.

The Times to build $15M press facility; offset European press (WIFAG) expected to roll in 2010

When your company (Gannett) invests in a $15M printing press project against negative prognostications for print newspapers, you say THANK YOU.

The Times has purchased an offset press and will build a facility on our existing property in downtown Shreveport.

What does this mean to local newspaper readers?

· In color and sharpness, think USA Today.

· Crisp, sophisticated graphics.

· Photographs with depth and detail.

· Refined and easier-to-read text.

· A uniquely modern product.

“We believe print is here to stay, even though the Internet is a bigger part of what we do,” Times Publisher Pete Zanmiller says in today’s announcement story. “This press will allow us to give a modern-day paper to the city.”

When The Times puts its 1960s letterpress to rest in 2010, our European press replacement will position your newspaper for the future. Vivid offset color will be available on every page for news and information and for advertisers. The new format will be the more portable and easier-to-handle Berliner format, an 18.5-by-11-inch page size. (The press was developed and manufactured by WIFAG.)

This press will make us the third North American paper to commit to the Berliner format, following the successful 2006 conversion of another Gannett newspaper, Lafayette, Ind., and the expected 2009 conversion of the Reading (Pa) Eagle.

Producing a higher-quality product on a modern press means we’ll be delivering news to doorsteps for years to come. While more and more people go online, the masses still enjoy their morning newspaper. We are in the hands of more than 130K readers every day (200K on Sundays). Many of those same readers are online too, tracking news updates.

Along with online-only readers, shreveporttimes.com visitors (Over 400K per month) are viewing more than 6M pages of news, photos and videos each month. News consumption isn’t wavering; it’s just changing. And we are changing with it.

If you want to be involved in helping mold The Times of the future, send me a line and a little bit about yourself. I’m building a list of dedicated readers who want to help build the next incarnation of The Times. We’ll have a few informal meetings in 2008 as a prelude to the hands-on work we’ll do in 2009.

With all that is happening in our community ( I-49 to Cyber Command to the burgeoning movie industry (movies coming, extras, Denzel Washington), it’s about time for a face-lift. An offset press producing bright color, crisp text and graphics will showcase many of the great moments yet to come.

Times photo: The Times purchased this four-story, 1991 WIFAG Press from a company in Switzerland. The press is a WIFAG OF 790, currently in operation in Ringier, Switzerland.

Emerging from the dark place

In the past few weeks, I've been to places I hope to never revisit.
My month-long bout with mononucleosis started with garden-variety symptoms that turned inexplicable and harsh: 3 days of non-stop hiccups, a "can't swallow" sore throat, 12 days of not being able to keep food down and daily nausea.
A virus beat me into the fetal position.
Emerging from the darkened bedroom, I long for work and a return to my routine. Fantasies of eating fried chicken or a hamburger are doused by a prescription of bland foods for recovery. Water crackers have been a staple. Interestingly, Raisin Bran has eased my upset stomach along with that diet.
I expect to get back to the December grind next week.
This is a particularly challenging month at many newspapers. The Christmas rush coverage coincides with a flurry of vacations. We are closing a few major 2007 projects alongside preparations for 2008. Independence Bowl coverage and LSU's national championship bid loom. We have a few special news projects to fit into the paper before the end of the year.
It is work we love, but it is daunting piled against the tug and pull of the holidays. My desk has mounds of unanswered mail among other things. Take much of that away, and December still seems a bear.
It happens to many of us every year, rushing to get a month's worth of work completed in only a few weeks. Any vacation plans loom like a cloud of pressure against an intense timeline. We try to squeeze a day off here and there for shopping, too.
Before you know it, HOLIDAY STRESS hits hard (nerves frayed, loved ones shortchanged and loss of sleep). That can be a place you don't want to go, yet we somehow end up there too often.
Resolving not to return to the darkness of my ill retreat and resolving not to end up a holiday mess requires the same focus.
We have to pace ourselves.

A bit under the weather

I haven't been posting lately due to a fight I'm having with a pretty nasty bug (infection). A few rounds of antibiotics these past weeks haven't done the trick. I keep feeling I've got this bug on the ropes, but, alas... I do hope to be back at work and posting on this blog within a week.
Your Sunday Times
Our news team is all set for election coverage tonight. Also, I'm looking forward to our report on the state of the YWCA. Of course, it will be a joy to relive the LSU(41) - Ole Miss(24) game in the Sports section. The game in Oxford did not disappoint this couch-bound editor. The blogs on the LSU game and the Louisiana Tech game are a treat you should review.
Looking ahead to your Thanksgiving Day paper
The Nov. 22 edition is produced as a Sunday-size paper. It is one of the biggest newspapers of the year. In addition to all the news stuffed in the turkey edition, it will be jammed with the holiday sales inserts every shopper will devour. We have to start the presses a few hours early on Wednesday to get out the door for early sales at Wal-Mart and other stores.

Bring a chair to the Fourth Annual Highland Jazz & Blues Festival

Grassroots neighborhood organizations like the Highland Area Partnership know how to throw a party in Shreveport. Their fourth jazz and blues festival begins at noon this Saturday in Columbia Park.
Nov. 17 is an election day too, so cast your votes in the morning and go enjoy classic local performers like the Bluebirds (at right) or Dorothy Prime and the Bluesjumpers. Hear any of the 11 bands slated to play for free. Get more info about the event on a couple blogs: HAP and shreveport.blogspot.com. Read more in Preview Friday.

Mountain view for Louisiana Tech

Two words: Appalachian State.

Ribbing the Michigan football fan, our publisher Pete Zanmiller, about Appalachian State robbing Michigan of their season in an early upset win is still a career risk. Some here have walked that road.

When Louisiana Tech lines up against penalty-prone LSU in Death Valley this weekend, they can draw inspiration from that game. Goliath can be taken down.

Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley has it right when he says he doesn’t need to talk about how good LSU is and explain that to his team. His kids and my kids know. But every game offers a chance to win and a chance to lose.

Tech can mount a true challenge if they bring inspiration and a belief they can win. They have to push aside the mound of prewritten, preconceived headlines. A “nothing to lose” mentality can work for you when you have everything to win.

If Dooley is looking for headlines to show his team, just remember what the scoreboard in Ann Arbor said on Sept. 1, 2007:
Appalachian State 34
Michigan 32

Louisiana Tech may be an under-underdog in comparison to 1-AA defending champ Appalachian State, but we love the message movies like Rudy offer: heart, hard work and perseverance can create miracles.

The Zanmillers know this too well.

Photo: (AP/Duane Burleson) Appalachian State Mountaineers head coach Jerry Moore is carried off the field after defeating Michigan Wolverines 34-32 in September. Michigan was ranked 5th at the time. Moore led one of college football's greatest upsets.


Note: LSU (2) vs. Louisiana Tech , 7 p.m., Nov. 10

Big LSU win in bright lights

The Times immediately beamed the big news of today's LSU win over Alabama onto digital billboards located in Bossier City and Shreveport after the game.
This is the first time the newspaper used this media format to share breaking news. The "LSU beats 'Bama" banner will rotate on four billboards tonight and through Sunday morning.

Sign locations:

• Youree Drive and East Kings Highway
• Barksdale Boulevard near Jimmie Davis
• East 70th and Fern Avenue
• Benton Road @ Benton Spur
  

Relive the Tigers 41-34 victory over the Crimson Tide on the Bayou Bengals Blog. LSU pulled ahead in the final minutes when Shreveport's Jacob Hester scored (photo gallery).

Helping one animal at a time

The problems our community faces dealing with abandoned or unwanted dogs and cats are daunting. In Caddo and Bossier alone, we euthanize about 24 animals per day. We’ve observed Caddo’s troubles managing the parish animal shelter. In some ways, it can only get better. "These changes can't happen overnight. It will take time," said Caddo Parish Administrator Woody Wilson, wishing his magic wand could fix the ills and would move things along. Bossier is working to improve its operations too.

Caddo Animal Shelter photo and info provided (top right): This mix is still a pup and is neutered. He, and his big ears, wait for a new home. His photo runs Monday in the Living section. letting folks know he is available for adoption.

Many volunteers and animal lovers save animals in danger, hoping to help them avoid fates awaiting them at animal shelters. Consider local fencing champ Andy Shaw of Fairfield Avenue School of Fencing in Shreveport. With his 2-inch-thick scrapbook of animals he saved from the streets, Shaw shares a passion for making a difference one animal at a time. He’ll interrupt his life often to help hurting dogs on the street. A truly abandoned dog is easy to identify, he says. He cleans them up, starts any needed medical treatment and finds them homes.

Thanks to Andy, we have Sadie the newshound in our house (photo in right-hand rail). We didn’t know we would be so ready to have a dog again after our pound-found mutt Max left this world. If you are wondering how to help one animal at a time, there are many in need. Write Andy, or just go visit the shelters to find your next family member.

Wired city: Plug Shreveport into the world

Anxiety over last-minute decisions at the office weighed on me during a family trek to Mt. Rushmore. When we pulled into a highway rest stop in Iowa, a sign declaring free Internet access was a godsend.

Disappointing my wife who declared the trip a mostly-electronic-free vacation, I popped open my laptop and logged into e-mail. After a short exchange with the office, my mind was clear.
"Can we turn it off now?" she said. We returned to the license plate alphabet game and High School Musical sing-a-longs.

In the middle of the country, business was enabled, encouraged. Traveling around, you begin to see some advantages for Shreveport to set up public-supported free Internet access. (This is being considered by the City Council).

Just like food and water, Internet connectivity is seen by the next generations as a basic need. As the global economy evolves and breathes online, we can help put our city on the fast track now. The time is nigh for us to wrap our arms around the future by investing in it.

If you want young professionals to remain and thrive, provide the kind of services they seek -- and make it easy.

It isn't necessary to blanket the city with WiFi. We could implement a phased plan. The Texas Avenue corridor, the area around courthouses and government buildings and Red River District are good places to start.

Spotlight our new services with signs announcing, "Entering a public access WiFi zone."
Imagine a passerby on I-20 looking at a billboard that says, "Free Internet access in 5 miles; Connect in Shreveport's downtown."

When conventioneers and tourists visit, they can explore and make business deals at downtown eateries or meet partners to review presentations. They'll feel unencumbered.

Make Internet access free at the local airport as a business calling card. That service will be like a mint on the pillow to high-powered executives traveling to and from Shreveport.

Phoenix offers this. Why shouldn't we? (Check others.)

An introductory step into a city-supported wireless venture would do much:
g Locals may be drawn downtown for lunch or stay downtown to work outside their cubicle.
g Internet access would serve as an incentive for small businesses to locate downtown.
g Build-it-and-they-will-come infrastructure philosophy might attract wired young professionals and some technology companies that will serve Cyber Command.

Imagine overhearing college students: "Hey, let's go over to the District and meet. We can hook up for free while we eat." If you want young professionals going downtown, give them what they seek.

Once we expand WiFi access, imagine real estate agents, city workers and sales people becoming faster and more efficient in a city supporting new ways of working. Ah, this is a quality-of-life feature we can celebrate.

As we build more roads and highways, we should build an on-ramp to the new economic and information superhighway.

While sitting on the bank of the Red River, a young woman opens her laptop to make a business decision that adds another Shreveport business to the global economy.

Bobby Jindal is on the line ...

Governor-elect Bobby Jindal called this morning thanking The Times editorial and community boards for endorsing him, for discussions of the issues and for even-handed coverage.

We talked briefly about Cyber Command and the list of good things going on in Northwest Louisiana. Jindal praised Governor Kathleen Blanco for visiting Northwest Louisiana more often than previous governors and pledged to do likewise. He explains he’ll be up here again soon.

Jindal sees the value in building up high-tech infrastructure -- as an opportunity to get ahead of other states. Jindal offered observations that some countries with rudimentary phone systems years ago leapfrogged us in technology. How did that happen?

The state with the best technology may be set to lead in an emerging global economy.

We appreciate his vision for a brighter and better Louisiana. To that end, The Times will continue to challenge and review the actions of government.

We are sending him links to our ongoing ethics series. We find it hard to accept that politicians who owe ethics fines can still run for office. Jindal agrees.

Lastly, he likens the transition process from Blanco's administration to his as “drinking water from a fire hydrant.” There is so much information and so much to do, so fast.

Jindal is expected to take the oath of office to become Governor of Louisiana on Jan. 12, 2008.
Up tomorrow: Blanco visits our community and stops by our offices.

Bobby Jindal is on the line...

Correct version: http://timeseditordesk.blogspot.com/2007/10/bobby-jindal-is-on-line.html
Blog homepage: www.timeseditordesk.blogspot.com

Bob Odom sees the S-Train coming

Why did Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Bob Odom drop out of the runoff and “retire”? Simple to reason.
Odom (top right) maxed out getting the number of votes he could against the Republican field in the Oct. 20th race with 41 percent.

He can't win.

He doesn’t have the support, resources, momentum or will to beat Republican Mike Strain in the Nov. 17 election. Even though Strain (bottom right) peaked at 40 percent, he likely would pick up the anti-Odom and Republican votes cast to the other challengers in the runoff.
When pressed about why he was “retiring” from the office, Odom acknowledged "the runoff definitely was a part of it."
Odom’s tenure has a history of corruption accusations and harsh criticism of his push to build a couple of mills in South Louisiana.
Odom did us a favor by keeping his engine off the track in a sure-to-happen campaign train wreck.

More Bill Joyce sketches at Cush's

When Shreveport artist and author Bill Joyce stops for a bite at Cush's Grocery and Market, he draws on the butcher paper covering the tables.
These mealside creations are turned into a one-of-a-kind gallery by proprietors Jean and Paul Cush. They just keep adding the sketches from his visits, numbering at least 30 on the walls. Ten or more are stacked next to the bakery case ready to go up.
Joyce is the mind behind Robots, Rolie Polie Olie, Meet the Robinsons and George Shrinks.
Think about it. Some meal-induced ideas simmer inside Cush's as part of a creative process. Beloved characters for children and adults come from the same hand.
This is an exclusive gallery, and you won't see this part of Joyce's work anywhere. They aren't for sale.
"Just name your price," a visiting movie producer once pushed to no avail.
The Cush family honors a longstanding request to keep this artist's journal between friends.
And genius meets genius here. There is more than just art to enjoy.
What started out as a "grocery with a restaurant" turned into a "restaurant with a grocery," says owner's son Chris Cush. He and his brother Paul Jr. round out the family affair.
Their mom fills the shelves with gourmet items. Locals know you can find some of the finest certified Angus beef in their display case. Chef Charlie Bush whips up some fantastic meals. (Joyce orders his bread pudding.) And their cupcakes will leave you star struck. Hollywood actress Katie Holmes' taste buds put their goods on the map following her 2007 movie-making visit (Mad Money).
They've served many actors since the movie industry set up shop in Northwest Louisiana, but they fondly refer to Joyce as the first star they served.
This quaint, back-in-time respite located at 9535 Ellerbe Road is truly a Shreveport gem.

Jindal Wins & LSU Wins

Turns out the Louisiana gubernatorial election was anti-climatic as the front-runner Bobby Jindal (R) won outright. As I typed this, Jindal had 54 percent of the vote to become the nation’s first Indian-American governor. Editors untied from election pages inside The Times newsroom quickly turned to the nail-biter LSU-Auburn game after Jindal was declared winner around 11 p.m.

Next, I looked at the victory photograph of newly elected Caddo Coroner Dr. Todd Thoma, asking where is the exuberance. Multimedia editor Mike Silva explained Thoma cheered when LSU scored, but that was it. So, even that hot local race between Thoma and incumbent Dr. Mairus McFarland didn’t excite in the final moments.

Leave it to LSU on election night to give us a 30-24 victory that left a memory. They came through in the clutch as news pages needed to start clearing the floor at 11:30-11:45 p.m.

For those keeping score on election results, early editions were incomplete due to slow-reporting Bossier results. As numbers trickled in from slow-refreshing computer screens connected to the Secretary of State’s Web site and at the courthouses, we hit some snags trying to finish pages.

Some results were not available until after the press run. And The Times first edition has incumbent Attorney General Charles Foti doing much better than he actually did. We got the news that he would not make the runoff after starting the first press run. Read complete election results for more.

Some editions of The Times will be delayed this morning because we held for the latest news. That said, most editions will provide a rather complete read. Return to the Monday Times for gubernatorial race precinct-by-precinct charts and for a few select races. It is always fun to look at how your voting location did.

For now, congratulations to the winners and to those making runoffs.
Read complete election coverage.

Election Crunch Time

The average voter may have finally started to focus on the Oct. 20 election. We might pick an outright winner for governor and many other statewide and local races. Runoffs will be decided Nov. 17.

This voter is searching the Internet, reading archived headlines, poring over newspapers and listening to audio of candidates. Getting this voter to the polls is the next step.

And The Times is trying to help.

Readers can review candidate bios and links on our election Web site. This shreveporttimes.com section will contain the Election Guide material appearing in The Times special section published Thursday. A sample ballot can be downloaded now and will be published Friday and Saturday

While the mantra of change echoes with "don't put the same ol’ faces back in office," Northwest Louisiana might benefit from returning a few. If leaders like Billy Montgomery (running for District 37 Senate after being term-limited in the house), District 8 State Representative Jane Smith and District 38 Senator Sherri Cheek are elected, they offer a senior coalition for Northwest Louisiana capable of helping newbie legislators navigate in Baton Rouge. They have a record of helping with Cyber Command and championing their constituents’ interests.

Locally, the Caddo coroner race is the most heated -- and the most interesting. It has been more than 20 years since there has been head-on competition for this job.

Dr. Todd Thoma is facing off with incumbent Dr. Mairus McFarland. Thoma, with assists by local attorney John Settle, is taking McFarland to task on administrative and operational decisions. Thoma has raised important issues about fiscal responsibility and use of specialized nurses, but you are the final judge of whether those points merit replacing McFarland. McFarland is credited with digging the coroner's office out of a major mess left by the late Dr. George McCormick. To McFarland's credit, he acknowledges the need to explore local autopsy options and makes good points about why some out-of-state autopsies are needed.
There is more to this debate.

Try to catch up on election issues by reading a few aging election forum headlines (1, 2 and 3).

Do your homework and review tomorrow's election guide published in lieu of the Conversations section. This guide will set you up to use the sample ballots being published in The Times Friday and Saturday.

As gubernatorial negative ads dissolve into desperation, don't be deterred by the process. Instead listen to audio of gubernatorial candidate stances and points:

• Walter Boasso: Download the interview
• Foster Campbell: Download the interview
• John Georges: Download the interview
• Bobby Jindal: Download the interview

Part of our process includes interviewing all the candidates and offering endorsements. A group of volunteer community board members and The Times editorial board met with the local and statewide candidates over a three-week period. Phew! A recap of the endorsements published these past two weeks will be published Friday.

Newspapers do endorsements to offer a considered opinion and provoke thought. We take a stance everyday on the issues that face our community. Why would we sit out on the biggest decisions facing the future of our state, the 2007 election? You shouldn't sit out either.

The most effective and most American duty we have is to vote. See you at the polls Saturday. Follow results online and in The Sunday Times.

First Amendment Inspires More Thought

Catching up with e-mails and voice mail after a week in Washington D.C. has been exhausting. I participated in the 2006 Associated Press Managing Editors Conference as an organizer and floor manager.

I did take time to step out to visit our nation's founding documents at the National Archives and jogged around the awesome monuments near the National Mall. Spending a little time with the First Amendment is inspiring.

When Caddo Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel President Jackie Lansdale invoked the First Amendment in her commentary about School Board member Tammy Phelps' push to limit school employees sharing of information and views, the founding fathers would have been proud. Some believe the embarassing report on hot school buses is one reason the School Board wants to close ranks.

The proposal by Phelps to restrict employees' freedoms to participate in such surveys and investigations without "permission" flies in the face of what makes our country great. This "kill the messenger" approach is causing a stir.

Today's story carries perspectives on the new communication rule. The proposal only confirms what teachers tell us: they fear reprisal for speaking out and being quoted in the news as being critics on policies or plans.

Just because the board can create a policy like this doesn't mean they should. The Caddo School Board and administration should deny this Draconian proposal.

Instead, encourage teachers and personnel to feel free to be more vocal internally without reprisal to improve education. This is the answer.

Don't dampen a freedom that ultimately serves the public good as a check on government overseeing our children.

The First Amendment is FIRST for a reason. All governoring bodies should be unafraid of criticism and a redress of grievances.

On my desk:
n Governor's race endorsement runs Sunday.
n Caddo Coroner's race offered much debate and discussion for our editorial boards. Who do you think we'll endorse?
n Another story on school system policy planned for the Sunday Times.
n Election guide being published in The Times Thursday Oct. 18. (Sample ballots will run Oct. 19 and 20.)
n C.E. Byrd High School homecoming football game (vs. Captain Shreve High School) is an opportunity to explore how sports impact our lives (story Friday). Or the more important question: Will a Gator eat a Yellow Jacket?
n Red River Moms Web site is seeking new and additional discussion leaders.
n Election night planning is under way.
n Ethics fines and the lack of teeth in ethics laws concerns continue. Will Shreveport Councilman Calvin Lester and others pay their fines?
n We wished Gannett reporter John Hill well in his retirement at a Governor's Mansion reception. Governor Kathleen Blanco attended the gathering in Baton Rouge (at right).

Yellow Jackets & Gators... O' My!

C.E. Byrd High School's homecoming football game is always a big event. Everything is set as they play in-town rival Captain Shreve High School at Lee Hedges Stadium tonight in Shreveport.
The Times Publisher Pete Zanmiller (parent of a Captain Shreve student) found his door decorated by an employee who shall go nameless (a parent of a recent Byrd graduate).
In other news, Times staffer Terrie Roberts (parent of a Byrd grad) discovered a gator screen saver taunting her as she arrived to work.
Come back to shreveporttimes.com for a photo gallery and full coverage of a special matchup between Byrd's Yellow Jackets and Shreve's Gators.

The Barksdale Warrior Engages

The launch of The Barksdale Warrior, a new publication for Barksdale Air Force Base, hits military base stands Wednesday, Oct 3. This 10,000-circulation weekly expands coverage previously housed in The Bombardier, the base publication that closed Sept. 28.
Warrior Editor Stephanie Bemrose worked for The Bombardier. Now, she brings new ideas for content to better serve our fighting and flying warriors on the new nameplate.

Times military reporter John Prime, local retirees and national military news services will assist in providing coverage, too. In the debut issue, Prime leads a special report on Cyber Command gleaned from his recent trip to Washington, D.C. These reports will be made available on shreveporttimes.com.

Newseum hosting nation’s newspaper editors

The yet-to-be-opened Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., will provide a preview Wednesday, Oct. 3, to the nation’s newspaper editors.

The events and tour of the Freedom Forum's interactive museum of news and news history help open the 2007 Associated Press Managing Editors Conference (schedule). The sessions are packed with recent print and online innovations and provide direct interaction with major newsmakers.

Last year’s conference in New Orleans (last year’s schedule) stoked national dialogue on Hurricane Katrina.

· Read more about the Newseum’s creation and mission.
· Explore the events planned for this year’s conference.

Foster Campbell Channels Robin Hood

Louisiana gubernatorial candidate Foster Campbell (D) was easy to follow today, stumping on tax reform in a session with The Times' editorial and community boards. His platform to eliminate state income tax comes with a revenue replacement plan taxing foreigners getting rich off Louisiana oil in a Robin Hood-esque “scheme.”

Campbell contends the 40K miles of oil transmission pipelines statewide are an infrastructure stronghold. He plans to leverage them against oil companies for “fair share” contributions to state issues such as coastal erosion. He argues those pipelines are gold that will keep oil companies here despite new taxes being excised. (Listen to streaming audio.)

Campbell also wants to eliminate severance taxes on state-based oil production replaced by the new flat tax approach to oil processing. A local company would see a 50% reduction in taxes with Campbell's math. By his calculations, a $2B surplus would result.

Hmmm.

Campbell blew off Bobby Jindal’s flag waving on ethics reform as ineffective and ironic. He believes allowing lobbyists on the Senate and House floors are a bigger problem than some issues touted. Lobbyists' access to legislators during sessions is “too much influence, too close.” To force priority setting and reduce time on “trivial” local matters, Campbell would limit the number of bills legislators introduce. (Listen to streaming audio of the session.)

Other highlights:

• Forewarned losses of gaming revenue if Texas gets gaming within 6 years.
• Voiced unwavering support for “charity” hospital in New Orleans.
• Said PhD programs at LSU-S are a must.
• Picked on Entergy’s energy rates, saying they are dampening economic development in eastern parts of the state

As we closed, he expounded a little on Jena news saying it “got out of hand” and would not have developed into a national news event under his watch.

The Times Weather Map Tweak

Click weather prototype (left) and current feature (right) to enlarge.

The Times is planning to add the national weather map to the daily feature found on the back of the B-section. The prototype shares the change planned for October. By placing a few national cities from the list to the national map, it can be added within the allotted space.

Send your thoughts.

Also, explore the shreveporttimes.com weather report for radar images, satellite images and up-to-the-minute forecasts. The weather site provides one-stop shopping for various weather-related information needs.

Jena: Philadelphia to Los Angeles

View Today's Front Pages at the Newseum.

Ballooning Accident Eyewitness

Having the presence of mind to shoot photographs as horrendous events unfold can be hard to fathom. Sometimes it happens when a journalist is collecting feature ballooning images. A Sunday morning ballooning game turned dramatic for Times contributing photographer Tim Eddington. He witnessed an accident and runaway balloon near Bass Pro Shops in Bossier City (image right).

Right before Eddington’s lens, Texan Rick Ashby tried to hold onto a balloon rope after a hard landing playing the game, going up and up. From one view, it was a heroic effort to weigh down or to climb in a runaway balloon that could cause havoc hitting a highway. A passenger was not seriously injured in the accident. Ashby was rushed to LSU Hospital after letting go of the rope after rising over 20 feet.

Eddington called photo editor Mike Silva immediately.

“He told me that there had been an accident at the Balloon Rally and he thought he had some good shots,” explains Silva. “Because we did not know the extent of the injuries I decided not to post the close up shots of the man falling.” They worked together to post the accident images quickly that morning, adding more images after feeling sure Ashby would recover.

Silva worked to inform editors and to request a reporter follow up with a story. Heidi Hausmann, deputy news editor, juggled the planned 1A line-up to display Eddington’s dramatic photograph. KTBS will be airing more about the accident and Eddington's work on the evening news at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m today.

Eddington is an accomplished photographer and contributor to The Times. Usually, you can find his byline next to Evangel football (new Evangel Gallery being added today) and some pro football events.

Former Times Reporter Covers O.J. Simpson Arrest

Former Times reporter Francis McCabe covered the O.J. Simpson arrest for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He moved from here to there in 2006.

Pedaling Fast To Slow Down

Roaring through the trees, I was enjoying and disturbing the quiet.
On the mountain bike trail at Lake Bistineau State Park, my thick tires cracked fallen limbs and skidded through pine straw on a solitary Sunday morning. The challenges of twisting a bike around trees and riding through culverts required complete focus.
While wiping away cobwebs collecting on my face, a deer sprang from the brush. The surprise jolted my chest and stopped me long enough to really soak in a moment found miles into the woods.
Lake Bistineau is a beautiful, serene place to take a break from cell phones and the pace of everyday life. A bit of paradise is around many corners in Louisiana, if you slow down a little to take a look.

Cyber Command Moment Excites

The exuberance of local officials, the community and military folks to Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne's confirmation of a “provisional” Cyber Command at Barksdale Air Force Base is understandable. Many have been working toward the promise of thousands of related jobs and the potential boost to Louisiana’s economy. The higher education infusion could be substantial (La. Tech, BPCC and LSU-S and more).

From U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu to Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker, confidence about the pending announcement abounds. The idea that Cyber Command is a “done deal” may not be too premature for people in the know. All of us see the incremental news leading us to the same conclusions they profess. The Air Force secretary’s comments Wednesday about hatching the next phase leave less to the imagination.

But the words “provisional” and “interim”, once again, are a necessary component in the process. They depict the stage as accurately as possible knowing that Defense Department and congressional reviews are to come. These entities hold some say over what will happen.

Yes, revel in news moments that secure less doubt about the ultimate home of Cyber Command (read Air Force Times article). We all await the "official" words that seal the "deal" on a new cyber-based future. Washington D.C events on the 60th anniversary of the Air Force Sept. 18 may bring more news.

It does seem time to buy bottles of champagne and to put them on ice. But don’t pop the cork too soon. And don't count your chickens before they've hatched.

Photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr.
Tech. Sgt. John Webb and Staff Sgt. Clinton Tips update anti-virus software for Air Force units to assist in the prevention of cyberspace hackers July 12 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The Air Force is setting up the Air Force Cyber Command soon and these Airmen will be the operators on the ground floor.

Air Force Cyber Command online for future operations

Cyber Command Incubates at Barksdale

The crowd at the local U.S. Air Force’s 60th birthday party Wednesday – celebrated five days early at Horseshoe Casino’s Riverdome – was buzzing after Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne (at right) mentioned Barksdale Air Force Base would house the “provisional” and interim Cyber Command (audio).

Air Force brass explained that the words “interim” and “provisional” are necessary because the Defense Department has yet to review many details before all the pieces can be put in place. From doing requisite things akin to soil samples to reviewing the full investment of personnel, the “interim” designation sets the command to materialize at Barksdale.

People leaving the party, including businessman Tem McElroy and Bossier Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lisa Johnson, all were talking about how excited they were to hear the surprise announcement from Secretary Wynne. While the word “interim” might have taken an edge off, it was U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu who gave it back.

It seems Landrieu knew something was up as the mention of the designation came together.

"It took a combination of extraordinary coordination and effort on the part of many local officials and the congressional delegation," she told Times reporter Margaret Martin. Landrieu praised Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder’s vision and shared, "All the stars were aligned."

The civilian and military audience rejoiced in the afterglow of the surprise announcement about the command taking shape here (photo gallery). "Provisional" home designation is the nod we needed.

Gen. Elder clearly was a hero for many Wednesday night, heralded for his leadership in putting Barksdale in the catbird seat for this military mission. When all is said and done, Cyber Command's birthplace is tasked with being the incubator for the formative years.

Our community has plans to build on that dream.

New Business Reporter Starting

Please join us in welcoming Tarah Holland to The Times and shreveporttimes.com as our business and general assignment reporter. She takes reporter Velda Hunter's previous assignment. Hunter shifted to the Shreveport City Hall beat in late July.
Education: B.S. in journalism and mass communication from North Carolina A&T in 2004.
Previous assignments: News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.) sports and general assignment reporter and The Roanoke Times government reporter (Virginia).
Local connection: Brother stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base.

Take Time To Remember 9/11

Images of 9/11 flashed through my mind at the same Ellerbe Road intersection I was at 6 years ago. Reports of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were ringing through the radio the same way memories of that day were today.

As the enormity of the news registered in 2001, I was talking with former Times editor Judy Christie. She was scheduled for a morning flight. I vaguely remember saying, "You aren't going to Washington D.C. today."

Shreveporttimes.com went into overdrive as we confirmed President Bush would address the nation from Barksdale Air Force Base (photo right) . 6 years ago...

Take time to remember:

• Remembrances around the nation.
• A photographer reflects.
• An archive to review.
  September 11, 2001 photo: President George W. Bush walks with Lt. Gen Tom Keck, Commander of the 8th Air Force, at Barksdale AFB . Bush later departed Barksdale AFB for an undisclosed location after making a statement on the recent terrorist acts. Photo by Win McNamee/REUTERS

School Peanut Restrictions

St. Joseph Catholic School in Shreveport sent a letter home to parents discussing restrictions on peanut-laced foods. St. Joseph School Council Chairwoman Theresa Murphy explains the letter was sent to protect children who are deathly allergic to peanuts until a policy can be formalized. Her e-mail to me explains they'll finalize details during their monthly board meeting Sept. 18.

This piqued my interest because I am the father of a child with a peanut allergy. Going back to school raises fears because one missed peanut is a sure trip to the hospital. Our doctor explains that minutes matter, don't delay. It is a life-changing experience to witness a child going through a peanut reaction and shock.
Several schools in our community have set up areas where children with allergies can sit away from the general population. Others closely monitor lunches and desk pairings to mitigate risks. Most public schools simply don't offer the products.
This move by St. Joseph Catholic School is getting some impassioned response from both sides at the school.
Some may see it as an annoying inconvenience (and absurd) to create a policy protecting the few, but consider the leadership and lessons demonstrated. Should we sacrifice a convenience (or pleasure) for the good of a few? Should a majority ever be asked to sacrifice for a minority?