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.