July 4th in Bogalusa: Time to celebrate!

Gov. Bobby Jindal

It's America's 237th Independence Day and Bogalusa's 97th birthday, and early on, there was activity as the community readied for a day full of activities — including a visit from Gov. Bobby Jindal and scheduled appearances the heads of both the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

Before 7 a.m., Mack Corkern of the Bogalusa Lions Club, was making his way down Columbia Street, placing American flags in front of local businesses which have subscribed to the Lions program.

Mack Corkern and helper placing an
American flag at Bino's about 7 a.m.

In the 400 block of Columbia, there were a couple of volunteers with trash bags picking up the debris of the weekend in an attempt to clean at least a portion of the parade route.

Down Highway 21, at Jason Lumpkin's Bogalusa Equipment, his long-standing sign touting Bogalusa and long-promised Highway 3241 faced the northbound lanes, as always.

Jason's Lumpkin's pro-Bogalusa and Highway
 3241 sign at his business, Bogalusa Equipment.

It was Lumpkin who, at a recent Bogalusa City Council meeting, called on his fellow citizens to catch the attention of the governor as he made his way through the community.

"There are going to be plenty of (American) flags," he said at the time. "What we need to do is have our school children lining the parade route with signs promoting Bogalusa. Let's remind him (Jindal) about the prison and his promise to build that highway."

The parade gets under way at 10 a.m. at the corner of 6th and Columbia, moves north until it reaches Carolina Avenue, then turns west on Carolina until reaching Cumberland. Again heading west, the parade will proceed to 9th, where it will turn west until reaching Avenue F and makes a right turn to head to Willis, where another right turn will take it to the Bogalusa High School parking lot, where it will disband.

American flags, by morning's early light,
greet drivers on Columbia Street today.

At 10:30, a pair of McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles are scheduled to make a high-speed, low-altitude pass over Bogalusa.

Following the completion of the parade, there will be a brief break until the start of activities in Cassidy Park at 1 p.m.

Live music, games and activities for kids, food booths, political speeches and a bicycle parade at 3 p.m. headline those activities.

The last chance to purchase fireworks for
the July 4 holiday ... and signs mark the
spot at the former Mack Grubbs SuperStore.

Things wind down at last light today, when Bogalusa's annual fireworks display light up the night skies as they are fired from a location by the Temple-Inland pond. To afford spectators a unobstructed view, Bogalusa City School officials will open Lewis V. Murray, Jr. Stadium.

The schedule for Cassidy Park includes:

Activities located in the area by the museums include:

            1 p.m. — Wayne McCain (on the Pioneer Museum porch)

            2 p.m. — Eli Seals and Friends (on the Pioneer Museum porch)

            3 p.m. — The Petty Bones (inside the Pioneer Museum)

            3 p.m. — Turtle races (outside the Native American Museum)

            3 p.m. — Bicycle Parade (bring a non-perishable food iterm for the Bogalusa Help Center as an entry fee)

            4 p.m. — Gene Gunulfsen and Friends (on the Pioneer Museum porch)

            5 p.m. — 8 Years Difference (on the Pioneer Museum porch)

            6 p.m. — Kipori Woods (on the Pioneer Museum porch)

            7 p.m. — Beth McKee (Evangeline) (on the Pioneer Museum porch)

Activities located at the stage include:

            1:45 p.m. — Allen Barrios

            2 p.m. — Political candidates

            3 p.m. — The Forman Twins

Activities located by the covered bridge include:

            Food vendors with hot dogs, hamburgers and more as well as a sno-ball stand

Visit by Gov. Bobby Jindal highlights busy Independence Day celebration in Bogalusa

With Gov. Bobby Jindal scheduled to ride in Monday's Independence Day parade, Bogalusans are set to celebrate the city's 97th and America's 235th birthday in grand fashion.

Following the first official appearance of Paper Queen Karlie Wheat on Saturday night at the Paper Queen Ball, activities slowed on Sunday as a mid-afternoon thunderstorm washed away the dust and dropped the temperature several degrees.

      (More July 4 activities in Cassidy Park, see related story)

Now, as time winds down until the start of the day, all that's left to do is cook out, shoot fireworks and get ready for Monday.

Things get started early Monday as volunteers gather at Magic City American Legion Post 24 to go over the final set of details and cover the check list once more.

Then, at about 8 a.m., the lining up entries in the parade will begin at the corner of Sixth and Columbia in preparation for the scheduled 10 a.m. start.

Coast Guard Capt. Jim Montgomery said this year's parade carries a dual theme — "Citizen Soldiers" and "Protect What Matters" — in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

And as part of that recognition, Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreau, Adjutant General of the Louisiana Army National Guard, and Lt. Gen. Brod B. Veillon, commander of the Louisiana Air National Guard, will join the Governor in the parade.

In addition, at least one band — a 46-member military unit — is scheduled to participate.

As the parade heads north on Columbia Street, a pair of McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles are scheduled to complete a low-altitude, high speed flyover at 10:30

The parade will head north on Columbia, cross Bogue Lusa Creek and continue on Richmond before turning left on Carolina Avenue at Zellco. The parade will cross Louisiana and continue west on Carolina, then Superior Avenue before turning south on Cumberland. Participants will continue south, crossing Bogue Lusa Creek again and continuing on Avenue B before turning west on West 9th, north on Avenue F and finally, right on Willis Avenue before disbanding at the Bogalusa High School Parking lot.








, Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.




It's Friday, and the July 4 weekend — when we celebrate Bogalusa's 97th birthday and the 235th for the United States of America.

When you think watermelon around these parts, it's Washington Parish melons, and some of the best are grown by local attorney John Gallaspy and longtime educator Mickey Murphy.

Late Thursday afternoon, Gallaspy went to his five-acre melon patch and gathered two pickup loads to take to Travis' Supermarket so customers could have a fresh, local melon for the weekend.

Gallaspy is growing at least three varieties this year, including one called "Desert Storm," which has a sort of sage green, dusty color to it.

"Obviously," he said, standing by the bed of one of the trucks, "that one came out after the first Iraqi war."

There are folks selling watermelons on almost every street corner, parking lot and wide spot by the side of the road. In Covington on Thursday, heading out on Highway 25 towards Franklinton, one vendor had a "special" on Washington Parish melons — two for $20.

A word of advice ... stay close to home, pay much less and you've got a greater chance of actually getting a Washington Parish melon.

With 725 acres and a cash value of nearly $1 million, Washington Parish is among the state's four top melon producing parishes.

Along with the melons, there are picnics and beauty pageants — like Saturday night's Paper Queen Ball and Coronation at American Legion Magic City Post No. 24.

Queen Karlie Wheat will make her first public appearance at the ball, then will turn right around and participate in Monday's July 4th Independence and Birthday Parade through Bogalusa.

On Monday, lining up for the parade will begin about 8 a.m. near the corner of 6th and Columbia,  with a 10 a.m. scheduled start.

Capt. Jim Montgomery, U.S. Coast Guard, said the parade carries a dual theme this year — “Citizen Soldiers” and “Protect What Matters” in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.

After the parade there will be a brief break before activities get under way at Cassidy Park at 2 p.m.

In a revival of one of the greatest traditions of political campaigning in the South, all candidates for public office are invited to take the stage at the park and greet and talk with the public

The park will also feature food vendors, music and a first-ever bike parade.  Kids of all ages are invited to decorate their bicycles and parade along the new, asphalt track at 3 p.m.  The entry fee for the bike parade is a donation of a perishable food item, which will be given to the Bogalusa Help Center.

Following the activities at Cassidy Park there will be another break until dark, when the sky will be lit up by the explosions of fireworks launched from the Temple-Inland pond. The Bogalusa City Schools will open Lewis V. Murray, Jr. Stadium so that persons may view the fireworks in an open-air setting.

July 4 weekend means watermelons, queens, parades, picnics, patriotic music and fireworks

A pair of John Gallaspy's melons
await the Fourth of July knife.

It's Friday, and the July 4 weekend — when we celebrate Bogalusa's 97th birthday and the 235th for the United States of America.

When you think watermelon around these parts, it's Washington Parish melons, and some of the best are grown by local attorney John Gallaspy and longtime educator Mickey Murphy.

Late Thursday afternoon, Gallaspy went to his five-acre melon patch and gathered two pickup loads to take to Travis' Supermarket so customers could have a fresh, local melon for the weekend.

Gallaspy is growing at least three varieties this year, including one called "Desert Storm," which has a sort of sage green, dusty color to it.

"Obviously," he said, standing by the bed of one of the trucks, "that one came out after the first Iraqi war."

There are folks selling watermelons on almost every street corner, parking lot and wide spot by the side of the road. In Covington on Thursday, heading out on Highway 25 towards Franklinton, one vendor had a "special" on Washington Parish melons — two for $20.

A word of advice ... stay close to home, pay much less and you've got a greater chance of actually getting a Washington Parish melon.

With 725 acres and a cash value of nearly $1 million, Washington Parish is among the state's four top melon producing parishes.

Along with the melons, there are picnics and beauty pageants — like Saturday night's Paper Queen Ball and Coronation at American Legion Magic City Post No. 24.

Queen Karlie Wheat will make her first public appearance at the ball, then will turn right around and participate in Monday's July 4th Independence and Birthday Parade through Bogalusa.

On Monday, lining up for the parade will begin about 8 a.m. near the corner of 6th and Columbia,  with a 10 a.m. scheduled start.

Capt. Jim Montgomery, U.S. Coast Guard, said the parade carries a dual theme this year — “Citizen Soldiers” and “Protect What Matters” in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.

After the parade there will be a brief break before activities get under way at Cassidy Park at 2 p.m.

In a revival of one of the greatest traditions of political campaigning in the South, all candidates for public office are invited to take the stage at the park and greet and talk with the public

The park will also feature food vendors, music and a first-ever bike parade.  Kids of all ages are invited to decorate their bicycles and parade along the new, asphalt track at 3 p.m.  The entry fee for the bike parade is a donation of a perishable food item, which will be given to the Bogalusa Help Center.

Following the activities at Cassidy Park there will be another break until dark, when the sky will be lit up by the explosions of fireworks launched from the Temple-Inland pond. The Bogalusa City Schools will open Lewis V. Murray, Jr. Stadium so that persons may view the fireworks in an open-air setting.

Cassidy Park activities added to parade, fireworks presentation on Fourth of July

Besides the United States of America and the City of Bogalusa sharing birthdays, there’ll be lot more going on this Independence Day weekend — including an appearance by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

“We see the Fourth of July Parade sponsored by the American Legion and the Fireworks Display sponsored by the American Legion and the City of Bogalusa as a wonderful start and finish to the day.  We want to add to the middle to make it an all day celebration, “ said Bogalusa Mayor Charles Mizell.

Activities get under way at 7 p.m. Saturday night at the American Legion when the Paper Queen Ball is held and a new Paper Queen is crowned, taking the crown and scepter from Ashley Lee Mizell, who was the 71^st winner last year.

On Monday, lining up for the parade will begin about 8:30 a.m. near Sonny’s Pizza with a 10 a.m. start.

Capt. Jim Montgomery, U.S. Coast Guard, said the parade carries a dual theme this year — “Citizen Soldiers” and “Protect What Matters” in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.

After the parade there will be a brief break before activities get under way at Cassidy Park at 2 p.m.

In a revival of one of the greatest traditions of political campaigning in the South, all candidates for public office are invited to take the stage at the park and greet and talk with the public

The park will also feature food vendors, music and a first-ever bike parade.  Kids of all ages are invited to decorate their bicycles and parade along the new, asphalt track at 3 p.m.  The entry fee for the bike parade is a donation of a perishable food item, which will be given to the Bogalusa Help Center.

Following the activities at Cassidy Park there will be another break until dark, when the sky will be lit up by the explosions of fireworks launched from the Temple-Inland pond. The Bogalusa City Schools will open Louis V. Murray, Jr. Stadium so that persons may view the fireworks in an open-air setting.

The City of Bogalusa, Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion are working together to make this Fourth of July memorable for everyone in the city of Bogalusa.  If you have an idea and are willing to work to make it a reality, contact Marilyn Bateman at the Chamber of Commerce at 735-5731 or Sandy Bloom at the City of Bogalusa at 732-6211.