July 2019

Officials: Current mosquito population surprisingly low

With the recent hot and dry weather, area officials report a relatively low population of the common biting pests the South is known for.

Jeff Davis Parish Mosquito Abatement Director Robert Tonn said he is glad to say there has not been an overpopulation of the insects.

“It has been really hot lately, with temperatures staying in the nineties until later in the evening,” said Tonn. “Mosquitoes don’t care for the heat and they will seek out shade during the day.”

Nationals dance their way from rock bottom to playoff race

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven weeks ago, the Washington Nationals didn’t have much to dance about.

They were 12 games below .500 with the fourthworst record in baseball. They weren’t giving ace Max Scherzer and Co. enough run support, and the bullpen was a ticking time bomb to another deflating loss.

“Any way we could lose a game, we found a way to do it,” first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. “Then you go to New York and get swept, lose four games in a row, you feel like you’re at rock bottom.”

SPORTS BRIEFS

Ex-Lions, Texans safety Glover Quin retires after 10 seasons

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Glover Quin has retired after 10 seasons in the NFL.

The former Detroit Lions and Houston Texans safety announced his plans Tuesday on Instagram .

Quin started every game for nine straight years after starting in 12 games as a rookie in 2009 with the Texans. He had an NFL-high seven interceptions in 2014 with the Lions and 24 interceptions during his career.

Witt Jr., Lynch win national prep athletes of year

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. realized a childhood dream, getting selected No. 2 overall by the Kansas City Royals in the major league baseball draft.

The younger Witt added another honor, too, when he and softball pitcher Kelley Lynch were named national prep athletes of the year on Tuesday night.

The son of former major league pitcher Bobby Witt, the Witts are the first fatherson duo to be selected in the top three of the draft.

Roger Federer wins 100th match at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Roger Federer won his 100th match at Wimbledon, and it put the eighttime champion into his 13th semifinal at the All England Club.

Federer was broken in his opening service game but didn’t have much trouble after that, beating eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Federer is the first player to win 100 matches at one Grand Slam tournament. His overall record at the grass-court Grand Slam in 100-12.

In the semifinals, Federer will face either Rafael Nadal or Sam Querrey.

Sagan sprints to victory in Tour de France Stage 5

COLMAR, France (AP) — Peter Sagan of Slovakia silenced his critics and won the fifth stage of the Tour de France Wednesday as Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe kept the race leader’s yellow jersey.

The three-time world champion posted a 12th career stage win at cycling’s biggest race, emerging victorious from a bunch sprint in the eastern city of Colmar at the end of a 175.5-kilometer (109-mile) trek through the green forests and hills of western France’s Vosges massif.

Building a school is not the same as building a house

When constructing a home, building codes, insurance companies and lenders have the final say in how pieces of the project can be handled. The homeowner can ultimately choose a layout and many materials and features. Still, rules must be followed.

The rules and red tape are greatly multiplied when considering how to construct or remodel a public building paid for by tax dollars. The building’s purpose leads to even more detailed requirements.

Airport adventures are always interesting

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THE WAY I SEE IT

Ihave not done much flying since 9/11 but I have heard lots of horror stories about Homeland Security and TSA. I decided that when it is necessary for me to fly, I would go to the airport with a positive attitude. If they ask me to dance naked across the conveyer belt, I will gladly comply as long as they don’t put me on the plane with someone who wants to set us on fire.

Kamala Harris takes aim

Purely as a sporting proposition, I would love to watch Donald Trump debate Sen. Kamala Harris. The combination of her race, her beauty and her lacerating wit would scare him half to death. I’m guessing he’d concoct an excuse not to show up. Not his type, you see. Definitely not his type at all.

That goes for Donald Trump Jr., too. He viewed it as a “Wow!” moment that some African-American Trumpist said Harris isn’t really black because her parents were born in Jamaica and India.

SirDayland ‘Cat’ Miller

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Funeral services for Mr. SirDayland “Cat” Miller, 77, will be held at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in Miguez Funeral Home. Funeral home visitation was held from 4:30-9