Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application he helped run paper routes around Texas City He became a survivor of the Texas City Disaster in 1947 where he was stationed in Paris for a time during the Korean War he moved back to Luling and married the love of his life He then worked for the Monsanto company for 33 years until his retirement He was a devout Catholic and devoted servant to St and director of religious education for many years He was a long-time member of the Boy Scouts of America where he served as Scoutmaster for Troop 370 in Luling for many years as well as holding numerous positions on the Council and National level He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2409 and the American Legion Post in Luling and researching his family’s genealogy Derek Walker and Taylor Walker Clement (Beau) He is preceded in death by his wife Leona Walker and Clifford Walker and Mary Walker Manwell Anthony Parish or the Boy Scout Troop 370 for St Falgout Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors There are always indicators when a small Texas town is destined for something great. Duck confit pops up on a restaurant menu. A technology start-up moves in. And, at least in the case of Luling, the largest convenience store on the planet opens its doors Sitting at the confluence of Interstate 10 this farming-and-ranching community celebrated its 150th anniversary this year and its nickname—the Crossroads to Everywhere—feels particularly apt.  a private eighteen-hole golf course designed by the highly regarded Kyle Franz is expected to open; it will feature some 1,100 acres of rolling barranca-riven terrain surrounded by cow pasture In a section of the town’s decommissioned airport New Mexico–based X-Bow Systems (that’s pronounced “Crossbow,” by the way) is developing a $25 million complex that will bring an influx of new residents to build rocket motors for the space and defense industries Economic Development Administration awarded Luling a $1 million grant last year to improve infrastructure and encourage growth in the aerospace manufacturing sector and the town has even been classified as an “emerging brewscape” by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild a sure sign that social media influencers are on the way that roughly 35,000-square-foot store was replaced by the biggest of the “Shangri-la of service stations,” as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis once called the Lake Jackson–based empire The new store was erected next to the original I spent a night in a charming farmhouse not far from downtown The requisite front porch looked out on grazing cattle glowing red and yellow between a gap in the trees the round Buc-ee’s sign that towers over I-10 beckoning to me like a cheerful lighthouse I had no choice but to drive over and marvel at the more than 75,000-square-foot store starting with the 120 shiny fuel pumps outside The interior felt familiar but refreshingly roomier packed with the many conveniences you never knew you needed (a fanny pack for your tumbler) and many you clearly do such as the bags of Gummi Bears and Chili Chees’n Crackers I brought back to my little house on the prairie.  All of this commercial activity may seem like quite the boon for a town of six thousand or so but it’s not as if Luling hasn’t been here before You can learn about the last growth spurt to sway its fortunes at the Luling Information Station you’ll find a library’s worth of Luling tourism pamphlets; outside is a tableau of red and black metal sculptures that depict the process of procuring oil upended the once quiet community of 1,500 souls when the western terminus of the Sunset branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad was temporarily situated here offering an opportunity for cattle ranchers and cotton farmers to export their products But the town really hit its stride when Edgar B followed his wildcatting brother to Luling and hit on an oil patch that turned out to be twelve miles long and two miles wide the field was producing more than eleven million barrels a year.  which holds its own in a homey spot across the road.  The 180 or so remaining pump jacks would likely draw little attention if a few of them weren’t so darn cute have been accessorized over the years with cleverly painted plywood and metal parts that depict animated tales: a cow jumping over the moon and a redheaded boy eating—what else—a slice of watermelon whose placid water spills through the dam—first made of stones and now concrete—that for years powered the whole enterprise Then wander through mule barns and corn cribs weathered buildings as a bustling hub for industry sun-warmed wood creaks and pops; Keep Out signs block rickety stairways; and the only visible activity is that of mud daubers and spiders.  Just as I was thinking the place would make a great setting for a scary movie Some of these structures played a role in Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof and a 1990 Dennis Hopper–directed romantic thriller called The Hot Spot; the poster shows Don Johnson creepin’ up on a beguiled Virginia Madsen with the text “There are only two things to do in this small town and it shows no sign of surrendering its kindheartedness and fun-loving spirit to encroaching citification Perhaps it’s a vestige of the legendary generosity of Edgar B who dedicated much of his fortune to the improvement of the town that helped make continued growth possible Friendly drivers wave you through at busy intersections and residents display their names on their gates and mailboxes At the stores and restaurants that populate the historic buildings lining East Davis shopkeepers chat with you as if they’ve known you forever and old friends catch up on the sidewalk.  And watermelons aren’t the only thing they celebrate Luling has a yearlong roster of community activities that includes a chili-and-barbecue cook-off as well as events and fundraisers featuring classic cars quilts (there’s a store downtown devoted to quilting) you’ll find a store with everything you could need for a road trip Hotel options have yet to expand beyond interstate staples, so thank goodness for Wahwahtaysee, a resort of luxury tents and cabins ten miles west of town. (Pick up a fresh-made sandwich at Brandini’s along the way.) Sit on your porch and watch cardinals flitting about bois d’arc trees or nestle up to the firepit and gaze at the stars twinkling overhead.  This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Texas Monthly with the headline “This Town Isn’t as Quaint as It Seems.” Subscribe today knew he wanted to serve his country – the question left was It turns out many roads are open for the Luling teen who achieved the rare feat of being accepted to three of the country’s service academies – Air Force Degenhart was recently honored for the feat by Representative Troy Carter and Brigadier General Paul Tibbets and he says he’s excited for the next step in his life – which will bring him to Air Force Academy Each academy receives roughly 10,000 applicants a year – and just about 10 percent of those will be accepted and then I certainly didn’t expect to get into all three I applied to summer programs in my junior year just to see where I stood and I got into all of them,” Degenhart said He visited all three academies and the Air Force felt like home “I went to Colorado Springs where the Air Force Academy is and I just felt like I love this.’ It was the branch I was leaning to already and that kind of made it official … seeing all those F-16s lined up on the runway and getting to fly the simulator just a little bit was very cool,” Degenhart said Degenhart said he gave serious consideration to all three but it ultimately came down to the Naval Academy and the Air Force “I’ve actually already started pilot training this summer,” Degenhart said His attention toward the military was sparked early in his life – he recalled reading books about World War II and other historical events that began a lifelong interest his early plan was to become a veterinarian That started to change when he visited Lackland Air Force Base and had the chance to fly a C-5 flight training simulator the school’s service academy day ramped up his desire to enlist – something he already had begun talking about before he even was a teen He did not take long to begin taking action I’m going to be the commander of (Jesuit’s Marine Corps’ Junior ROTC) unit William has always been mature beyond his years He decided when he was about 12 that this was what he wanted to do you go into it and you’re not sure you’re going to make one – and he made all three It’s kind of like the military triple crown Degenhart is also an Eagle Scout and a National Merit semifinalist one must be nominated by an authorized official – often a member of Congress or a senator Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John Kennedy Degenhart also noted a great deal of help from St Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne as well as Tab and Jena Troxler for writing recommendation letters and helping pave the way This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. Parks and recreation department debuts girls flag football program So many knew Harry Lemmon as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, which he served upon for more than 20 years.   […] Harry Thomas Lemmon, Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Louisiana from 1980-2001, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Good Friday, April 18, at age 94. […] Over 650 volunteers have registered for the 17th annual Trash Bash on Saturday, April 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. […] Only in Texas can a pit stop feel like a pilgrimage Forget what you think you know about gas stations—this one has 120 fuel pumps and sells cinnamon pastries the size of your face Welcome to Buc-ee’s: The Fuel-Up Theme Park the world’s largest gas station isn’t just big this Buc-ee’s location is what happens when a gas station gets bitten by a radioactive shopping mall the bathrooms are cleaner than your own home A viral video from a wide-eyed influencer recently showed what it’s like to walk into this beaver-branded paradise and food that should require its own health permit because it’s dangerously addictive Brisket sandwiches (aka the “three-meat bun”) got rave reviews a sausage-wrapped tortilla dipped in honey mustard had him questioning everything he thought he knew about gas station cuisine He even tried a “Paddle Tail,” a croissant-cinnamon roll hybrid If Buc-ee’s feels like Texas’ answer to Disneyland It’s got 50 locations across the U.S. and each one is known for pristine bathrooms and that slightly chaotic energy that makes you want to buy a belt buckle at 2 a.m The Luling location now officially holds the record for the world’s largest gas station knocking Tennessee’s Buc-ee’s off the throne by a few square feet and a whole lot of Texas pride So the next time someone asks “Is everything really bigger in Texas?” Just point them toward Luling where even filling up your tank turns into a full-blown adventure Gallery Credit: Melissa Bartlett/TSM Is Buc-ees the ultimate road trip destination? With its tasty brisket and immaculate bathrooms, it just might be.\nRead More by CBS Austin, Michael Adkison Texas — A fire at the old Buc-ee's location in Luling has been extinguished and firefighters are now conducting cleanup operations The Gonzales Inquirer reported Monday that the fire broke out at the original Buc-ee's store which opened in 2003 and was recently replaced by a larger facility The blaze was contained to the old store and did not threaten the new Buc-ee's location "This is NOT the new Buc-ee's store but the old one that opened in 2003 and just recently was replaced by the new one," the Gonzales Inquirer stated in a Facebook post at 11:14 a.m Multiple fire departments responded to the scene to provide assistance The Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management has announced that the fire is out and cleanup efforts are underway Motorists may now safely proceed through the area with caution The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time The Luling Volunteer Fire Department is expected to investigate the origin and cause of the blaze The new Buc-ee's travel center which opened on June 10 and spans 75,000 square feet was not affected by the fire and remains open for business She was the loving wife of the late Rene’ Champagne (of 71 years) She was the daughter of the late Eugene Aucoin and the late Marie (Kit) St Mae is survived by children Regina Champagne Labat (Ray) “Rennie” Champagne (Terry) and Gay Champagne Prindle (Kenneth/Rody) Also eight great granddaughters and one great grandson Anthony Ladies Altar Society and The Golden Girls Group Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral mass at St Visitation will be from 9:00 am until funeral mass at 11:00 am The family would like to thank the loving and caring nurses and care givers of Summerhouse/Ashton Living Center Also everyone from Hospice Specialists of Louisiana The Winn-Dixie on Highway 90 in Luling will close in mid-January Hurley said in an email the company gave advance notice to Winn-Dixie employees of the store’s closing The company also offered employees the choice to either apply for new jobs at the ALDI store or to transfer to a neighboring Winn-Dixie store “We will continue to work diligently to deliver an excellent shopping experience with minimal disruptions for our associates customers and communities,” Hurley said in a statement “As we work through this transition period conversion plans are still being finalized.” ALDI purchased nearly 400 Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama Florida and Mississippi from Southeastern Grocers earlier this year ALDI plans to rebrand some of them as ALDI stores and to run others under the Winn-Dixie banner Prairieville and Amite have closed or will close this year ALDI shoppers pay a 25-cent deposit to use a shopping cart “This 25-cent deposit ultimately saves our customers money because we don’t have to hire extra staff to collect grocery carts,” the company says on its website ALDI shoppers must purchase reusable ALDI shopping bags at check-out or bring their own reusable bags “This saves money by avoiding the cost of the bag and it cuts down on waste to help the environment,” the company says on its website Over 90 percent of the products at ALDI stores are ALDI exclusive brands this allows the company to offer lower prices without the hidden costs of national brands The Winn-Dixie store on Highway 90 first opened in 1999 Winn-Dixie ran a grocery on Paul Maillard Road from the late 1960s to 1999 paranormal activity at Destrehan Plantation Destrehan Plantation will soon play host to a fundraiser benefitting those suffering from pediatric brain cancer.   […] Jolie Lozano stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning of Destrehan’s home playoff matchup with visiting Mandeville, with a chance to win the game with one swing.   […] No. 18 Destrehan was locked in an intense Division I non-select opening round playoff series at No. 15 Central-Baton Rouge that went the distance. […] passed peacefully to be with our Lord on February 10 Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Luling The Rosary and prayer will begin at 8:30 AM for those who wish to join Steven Champagne and Marylane Miletello (Matt); great grandchildren Ilsa and Hutton; and many nieces and nephews She is preceded in death by her loving husband a member of the Ladies Altar Society and she spent many years singing in the choir at mass she could be seen tending to her beautiful flower garden volunteering around the community and ringing her cowbell at Hahnville football games She was a proud cancer survivor and supporter of the cause She will be truly missed by all those who knew and loved her.   The family would like to sincerely thank Ashton Manor for their wonderful care of her over the past few years including drug and money laundering offenses the Texas Department of Insurance said Tuesday 26 when the Luling Fire Department requested assistance from state fire marshals to determine the origin and cause of a fire at a local business investigators discovered evidence of tampering along with firearms faces charges of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and money laundering the individual is charged with tampering or fabricating evidence ALSO |Surveillance footage captures man damaging ATM Dripping Springs bank “Our investigators are trained to look for evidence of all crimes at a scene not just arson,” said State Fire Marshal Debra Knight “While investigating fires might be our primary objective that often includes working with local law enforcement in their criminal investigation State and local partnerships are one of our greatest assets in investigating and stopping criminal activity.” The ongoing investigation is a joint effort between the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Caldwell County District Attorney's Office The Luling Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division provided assistance at the scene The State Fire Marshal's Office encourages the public to report suspected arson cases to their hotline at 800-578-4677 Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 11:00 am on Monday A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am with burial to follow in St Jo Anne Barker and Tina Brou (Jeff); grandchildren Tarah (Caleb) and Logun (Amber); great grandchildren In lieu of flowers donation to Holy Family Catholic Church Fratelli’s Italian Grille is coming to Luling The restaurant will be located at 12715 U.S where Thompson’s Seafood was previously located before closing earlier this year While restaurant owners declined to offer an opening date this will be the family-owned business’ fourth location The restaurant’s menu includes broad selections of pizza Some more specific offerings include ribeye marsala spaghetti and crawfish and shrimp fettuccine alfredo There is also a wine list with an extensive selection While hours for the Luling edition of the restaurant are not yet announced the Prairieville location is closed on Monday Fratelli’s assumes a location that previously housed two different seafood restaurants Atchafalaya Seafood Company was open there for two years before closing its doors in early 2022 Thompson’s Seafood and Bar took over following Atchafalaya’s departure and opened its doors in March of 2022 It was the second restaurant for second restaurant for Shawn Thompson and Kristen Romback as it joined their Thompson’s Kitchen restaurant in Port Sulphur Thompson’s Seafood ceased operations this year with its social media citing a permanent closure HHS alumni is going strong at 101 years old Bonnie Becnel Lorio passed away peacefully April 20, 2025, at the age of 83. […] The final game of Hahnville’s baseball season, a 7-6 loss in extra innings of game two of its best of three opening round series at Ruston, did not deliver the Tigers’ desired result.   […] The One Team One Fight organization will host its crawfish cook-off for St. Charles Parish first responders at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. […] The Luling-Boutte Lions Club will host the grand opening of its new bingo hall at 13117 Highway 90 on Friday said she recommends people arrive early to the grand opening The new location has space for about 225 people “I think it’s going to be a full house,” she said “Hopefully we don’t have to turn anybody away.” Breaux said the response from the parish community has been great “We’re getting a lot of good feedback,” she said “People have stopped us at Wal-Mart like ‘hey we heard y’all are coming back and we can’t wait to go!’” Breaux said the club will give away an assortment of prizes Concessions will include red beans and rice Smoking and vaping are not allowed in the bingo hall The club originally planned a grand opening for the first week of November but there were some delays in the renovations “The facility is brand new,” she said All proceeds from the bingo hall go toward community service organizations like the Destrehan/Hahnville scholarship funds She said the club is excited to give back to the parish “All of our money is non-profit,” she said “We donate our money to our people in our parish.” The Luling-Boutte Lions Club and another chapter of the international service organization The New Orleans Filipino American Lions will host their grand opening at the hall on Saturday the Luling-Boutte Lions Club hosted its bingo games at the St When the building was sold to the United Way of St Games were put on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the club moved its games to Houma in 2021 Breaux said club members felt they needed to move back to the parish to better serve the community “We do a lot of giving all year long,” Breaux said “We enjoy helping the community any kind of way we can.” Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization It seeks to strengthen communities and support those in need DOTD makes changes to traffic light at Highway 90 and Lakewood Drive Event teaches lessons of the business world to youth A prayer for a friend with breast cancer. A prayer for someone injured in a motorcycle accident. A prayer for a mom who lost a child. […] About 20 minutes after Hahnville’s 10-3 loss to Destrehan in the first of two rivalry matchups last week, Tigers’ head coach Jared Vial and his staff heard a loud and clear message from standout sophomore Koa Romero.    […] This summer, the touchdowns, interceptions and flag pulls aren’t just for the boys. […] Scooter’s Coffee has come to town after officially opening its doors Oct with more than 800 franchises across the country – the fifth-largest coffee chain in the U.S and the chain was originally established in 1998 in Bellevue 90 – will hold an official grand opening on Friday though the shop is up and running currently Franchise owner Christopher Bush said the response from the community has been more than encouraging trying something a little different to the area – and not only the guests but the crew we have who are from the area is fantastic friendly people and we’ve been very excited to be able to work with them.” Bush said the decision to open a store in St Charles Parish came in part due to familiarity with the area “We’re looking at opening a chain of nine (stores) The Luling Scooter’s is the first of the planned stores As for what visitors to Scooter’s can expect “The breakfast items are good to eat the whole day,” Bush said an everything bagel … we offer a nice variety to start your day off.” the store’s signature drink is the Caramelicious an espresso drink with caramel sauce and whipped cream including a special one next Friday that offers a buy one get one free any-sized drink with a coupon (that can be picked up now by customers via the drive-through) for the grand opening There will also be regular mailers to the area to update on different offers including different coupons and news of campaigns Founder of Hahnville motorcycle club remembered as beacon of light after tragic accident Musicians, snakes, ballet dancers and circus performers will make appearances at the St. Charles Parish Library this summer as part of the library’s 2025 Color Our World Summer Reading program. […] Sheriff’s Reports 4-10-2025 […] William Degenhart Jr. knew he wanted to serve his country – the question left was, in what capacity?  […] it set the Norco Civic Association Christmas Parade apart: Santa Claus arriving in style “Watching that helicopter fly over the parade route Santa Claus waving – and then watching the kids It’s the most joyful thing ever,” said NCA President Stephen Weber The Luling helicopter pilot volunteered his time and expertise every year flying Santa to the parade and creating an annual highlight for the many parade-goers This year’s Christmas parade was dedicated in his memory His wife Dawn and the Mayeux family rode as grand marshals Weber called Mayeux a friend and a very giving “He loved people and he loved doing what he did (as a pilot),” said Weber What do you need from us?’ And it’s of course just get Santa to my house … he said that he thought it was a blessing to do it.”  And it was a true act of kindness for Mayeux who Weber said always refused to accept anything in return “We would try to give him a little gift certificate this or that here and there – anything,” Weber said “And he threatened – ‘if you keep sending me these gift cards I’m not doing it anymore.’ That’s how adamant he was about doing it I don’t know what it must cost to take off in that helicopter and do what he did for years The parade was discontinued after an approximate 30 year run from the 1950s to the 1980s a group of Norco residents including Weber looked to revive it “We were taking ideas from the bonfire parade in Lutcher trying to get this up and going,” Weber said The idea of flying Santa in ultimately came up “I thought it was a pipe dream,” said Weber “I wasn’t sure you could get a permit to land a helicopter on the levee in the middle of an industrial area But the necessary permissions were granted it became more and more evident that this is something that’s going to be unique to our parade,” Weber said “I feel like a lot of people look forward to that more than even the parade sometimes Weber said the NCA is planning to add a plaque honoring Mayeux’s memory in Norco’s Town Square He also said it was a joy to have Mayeux’s family as part of this year’s parade I tell people that there aren’t many pilots who fly to the North Pole Real Estate Transactions 4-10-2025 […] Ken Huizar Andrea K. Moreno LULING, Texas – Firefighters in Luling said it was “all hands on deck” Monday morning as the first-ever Buc-ee’s travel stop went up in flames The fire was caused by the use of heavy equipment during the demo process A Luling volunteer firefighter official said the fire started at about 10 a.m More than a dozen fire departments responded to the scene The Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management posted on Facebook that the new store was not affected by the fire Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved Before that he was a news photographer at KVDA TV in San Antonio Ken graduated from San Antonio College with an associate's degree in Radio Ken has won a Sun Coast Emmy and four Lone Star Emmys Ken has been in the TV industry since 1994 She graduated from Texas State University with an electronic media degree and a minor in psychology where she held several positions at The Ranger Email Newsletters KSAT RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us KSAT Internships Careers at KSAT Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group First Baptist Church of Luling announced the permanent closure of its Wee School a full-time daycare program for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old First Baptist Church Pastor Cody Cunningham said the decision to close the school “The Wee School has been an important ministry of FBC Luling,” Cunningham said “It was through a lot of prayerful discussion that we determined this was the only feasible option.” the church’s leadership team said it decided to close the school after staffing shortages and decreasing enrollment Cunningham said these factors led to significant financial shortfalls which meant it was not feasible to keep the school open through the end of the school year  “The vision for the Wee School has always been to provide an affordable Godly environment to serve the families of St which meant that it has often operated with a limited budget,” Cunningham said “This shortfall meant that we could not increase pay Cunningham said that staff shortages in the early childhood industry is a national trend “The job is a demanding job as the teachers cared for children for long hours “We are thankful for the many workers who have given their time and energy to the ministry of the Wee School over the last sixty years.” Cunningham also said the school experienced decreasing enrollment as families took advantage of new Head Start programs at some parish public schools which impacted the number of children enrolled in the school’s older classes He said the most challenging part of the school’s closure is the impact on families “We know there is still a need for affordable childcare,” he said “When we notified parents of the Wee School’s intentions to close we also provided a list of other childcare options in the area.” Cunningham said he is hearing from families that they are finding spaces in other childcare facilities “Our church is intentionally praying that the families would all be able to find a suitable solution,” Cunningham said it will focus on showing the love of Christ to every family who walks through the door “We want to be good stewards to the opportunity we have left to impact these boys and girls for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said First Baptist of Luling opened the Wee School in 1964 and Cunningham said he is proud of the Wee School’s impact over the last sixty years “It has been bittersweet to read the comments and messages about how parents who attended the Wee School also sent their own kids through the Wee School,” Cunningham said “We would like to thank the families who have allowed the Wee School to play a part in your child’s life and we would appreciate your prayers as we determine other ways we can minister to our community in the years to come.” Norco Christmas Parade ushers in holiday season  Due to significant rain and snowmelt along its basin, the Mississippi River has continued to rise and could potentially reach a level that could trigger the opening. […] The idea for the Rescue Run Club came from a volunteer nearly 10 years ago. […] All of the Texas Observer’s articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: East Davis Street in Luling is lined with low-slung brick mom-and-pop shops But the road deviates from a classic Main Street feel with its centerpiece: a massive tin-roofed pavilion topped with an ornate green sculpture marking it as the home of the Central Texas town’s longrunning “Watermelon Thump” festival.  The pavilion is a permanent fixture; in fact the nonprofit that runs the Thump owns a good portion of the street The festival takes place the last full weekend of June and the street becomes a beacon for watermelon lovers storefront windows— anything that can be adorned with watermelons surely will be and live music—draws about 30,000 visitors It’s a lot for first-time attendees, or even casual melon enthusiasts, to take in. Nicole Smith, photographer and writer for thelocal weekly Luling Newsboy & Signal because this is the thing in town,” she tells me Industrial fans line the pavilion to beat back the 5-o’clock heat ahead of the opening ceremonies: the watermelon weigh-in and this year’s entries in the growing competition line the stage The imposing melons will be auctioned off the next day proceeds going to the growers and scholarships for local high schoolers I’m told the all-time auction record was around $35,000 for a single fruit.  The official weight announcer—who’s been doing the job for 44 years—stands onstage behind a folding table Pregnant seconds pass as the scale calibrates then the official weight is announced.  The second melon in line is a commanding fruit I feel compelled to call The Big One “Don’t drop it!” The Thump has an established policy for dropped melons: If it makes it through the door it’s entered into the contest; with witnesses festival staff weigh the dropped melon’s remains One grower suffered that fate this year: His knee gave out earlier that day and he and his 105-pound watermelon hit the ground.  co-owner of an eponymous fruit and vegetable company he says he learned the secret to growing super-sized watermelons from his late friend who was tight-lipped about the technique with everyone but him In the glow of his second Grand Championship win Mikesh shares the secret: Prune all but one fruit off of each vine each vine can focus its resources on one melon the Thump had so many growers they had to limit the auction to the top 15 You have a lot of enemies as a melon grower: wild hogs “Everything’s against you,” says Bubba Damon Many local growers have turned to less-fickle crops or livestock.  are bustling around the adjacent pavilion preparing for this year’s coronation as we talk more than 100 seats face a stage and flank an elevated runway but even those overflow seats aren’t enough and spectators spill into the adjacent pavilion eager to see which Luling high schooler will be Queen and a time commitment: The winner will spend the next year traveling to various festivals around Texas The 2023 queen reportedly traveled over 4,000 miles during her reign.  Before this year’s winner—voted in by the 2,546 Luling residents who cast ballots—is announced She recalls talking with her grandfather after winning in 2023 because when he immigrated to the United States “He never would have imagined his granddaughter becoming queen to represent a whole town.”  The Watermelon Thump lets residents take time to appreciate the fruits of their work There are many winners during the weekend: the Grand Champion grower the red-faced Watermelon Eating Contest winner Whether they wear a dirt-stained ball cap or a faux-diamond tiara is a staff writer at the Texas Observer covering criminal justice She received her master’s in journalism from the University of California Berkeley and was part of the team at The Marshall Project that won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting Michelle was born and raised in Dallas and is now based in Austin Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox © 2021 The Texas Observer. All rights reserved. Site made in collaboration with CMYK “It was like walking into a giant family with open arms.” described joining Luling Volunteer Fire Department two years ago I can talk to anybody there,” Tardiff said and you really just learn from their experiences and what they’ve done when they were your age growing up into the department and whatnot.” On March 21, Tardiff graduated from the New Orleans Fire Academy. He now works in New Orleans and Luling as a firefighter. Firefighting was a unique path for Tardiff But Tardiff said he knew he wanted to be a firefighter from a young age “Firehouse Dog,” a movie about a teenager whose dad is the fire chef “I knew I wanted to make firefighting my career one day.” If his parents had concerns about Tardiff joining the fire department Tardiff said his siblings were proud of him Tardiff is a triplet and has a younger sister Arguing and trying to get his way with his two brothers was difficult But there is a lot of good things about being a triplet The best thing is having brothers who look out for him The Luling Fire Department is also like a big family “I guess the fact that we’re all in it for one goal,” Tardiff said “And that’s to protect life and property in St When a call comes in and the department responds Tardiff said the adrenaline starts pumping right away that’s when you gather more information and figure out what needs to be done,” he said how are we going to stabilize and extract them you have to figure out where the leak is.” Tardiff said there are incidents that stick with him “I mean PTSD is a very real thing within the fire service,” Tardiff said and just talk about it to your family members But Tardiff said he would tell anybody interested in firefighting to go for it Luling man battles back from stroke through faith Chase Marcotte strolled to the plate in a tie game with the bases loaded, looking to make his mark on the Battle on the River rivalry.   […] For Will Reinagel and Cooper Matherne, that was the goal, and it was the destination.   […] Lapis Carbon Solutions, a carbon capture and sequestration developer and operator, has filed a coastal use permit with the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. […] opened SHERP of Louisiana in Luling about six months ago “I was looking for something a little more fun to do,” Monti said Monti has owned and operated Quality Cleaning Equipment and Supply in Luling for 38 years “You take a street sweeper out for a demo and that’s one thing, but when you take the SHERP out for a demo, you make a whole day of it,” Monti said. “It’s a lot of fun.” The SHERP is an amphibious all-terrain vehicle that can drive through dense swamps Monti said SHERP is a great highwater vehicle The SHERP can get to places that are generally inaccessible “This will climb over a downed tree – nothing is going to stop it.” The SHERP’s tires inflate using engine exhaust The driver can change the pressure in the tires from the cab in 90 seconds “When you’re on the road, you have the tires at one level,” Monti said. “When you’re in a swampy or soft terrain, you deflate the tires with a switch.” the SHERP does not go fast but has a lot of power “The SHERP is like the Swiss army knife,” Monti said “There are probably vehicles that can do certain things better but the SHERP is a different tool in the box.” Monti said the SHERP could be helpful after hurricanes and other natural disasters used SHERP vehicles to rescue stranded people from their homes after flooding from Hurricane Milton last October Charles Parish experienced historic snowfall last week Monti offered the SHERP to parish officials “I think where [parish officials] really saw it potentially applying was getting to critical infrastructure that was damaged,” Monti said but the SHERP would have gotten them there.” Brothers to open sixth collision center in Louisiana Historic snowstorm will have little impact on crawfish prices recalls the beginnings of the Bloody Decks Fishing Rodeo a decade ago as something he and his group of friends did for a fun time It has grown a great deal – and done a lot of good – since then This will be the 8th annual edition of the rodeo event which has evolved into a fundraising force for people suffering from unfortunate circumstances and Plaisance said the hope is that number will continue to increase as it has so much already over the years “Every year we’ve been able to raise more money,” Plaisance said more money raised and the more money we can get donated to the recipients.”  The four-day event is set for May 22-25 in Grand Isle Charles Parish natives are among the fundraiser’s three beneficiaries: Tiffanie Taylor LeBlanc and Amelia Hindman LeBlanc was diagnosed this year with Grade 3 double-positive invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer a highly aggressive form of breast cancer where the cancerous cells grow rapidly Grade 3 is considered the most aggressive grade of breast cancer The mother of three learned her diagnosis in January and was set for surgery late last month She will require chemotherapy but she is uncertain what further treatments will look like She credits her husband Zandi – also a St Charles Parish native – for love and support she says has helped her stay strong in the face of great adversity was diagnosed last year with brain cancer at just 4-years-old Hindman has DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) a very rare and extremely aggressive cancer located in the brain stem These tumors invade diffusely throughout the brain stem Aggressive surgery would cause severe damage to neural structures vital for arm and leg movement Hindman’s mother Brittany Stevens has become an advocate for pediatric cancer awareness and research Stevens said the first signs something was off came when her daughter’s balance seemed off and ultimately a CR scan revealed a mass in Hindman’s brain Hindman has undergone six weeks of radiation to help shrink the tumor She has enrolled in an extended access trial The third beneficiary is 7-year-old Asher Bonura of Biloxi who was diagnosed with stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) Stage 4 is considered the most severe stage of ARMS and it requires the most intensive treatment options Bonura and his family have moved to Memphis where he is undergoing treatment at St Money raised at the Bloody Decks event go toward medical travel and basic household expenses for the families during their respective battles “I’ve been fortunate to have never dealt with these circumstances personally but when I see the problems these families are going through it motivates me and motivates my team so much,” Plaisance said “We have a good group of people behind us and we want to help out any way we can.”  The 8th edition of the rodeo – the two missing years were due to COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida – will feature an adult and kids division Plaisance also stressed that this is an event for the whole family “A lot of people think this is a weekend-long party for adults but it’s a family-friendly event for all ages,” Plaisance said We have live bands and DJs throughout the weekend It’s going to be a good time and it’s for a great cause.”  Registration opens for popular Swamp School adventure camp Lynol Gauff’s eyes told the story when speaking about seeing students he’s mentored reaching their potential.   […] Ashley Landry thinks the waiting is finally over The waiting started after the premature birth of her triplet daughters last July Landry and her fiancé Drew Jordan went to a routine 29-week doctor’s visit when Landry began having contractions Landry was rushed into surgery for an emergency cesarean Landry and Jordan waited nearly six hours to visit their triplets for the first time in their NICU rooms at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans They waited to hold their daughters for the first time: three days to hold Kenzie seven days to hold Remi and 23 days to hold Austyn they waited 168 days – nearly six months – to have their daughters together again Austyn was finally discharged from the NICU on Jan – Landry’s birthday – nearly three months after her sisters came home and after six total surgeries to address a perforated bowel Austyn came home with a gastronomy tube to allow her to receive nutrition and fluids directly into her stomach we really couldn’t ask for more,” Landry said I don’t think there’s anything else to wait for.” It was a long road to parenthood for Landry and Jordan they experienced their first pregnancy loss Landry’s pregnancy with the triplets was difficult She had issues with her heart rate and often felt dizzy Landry was rushed into an emergency surgery for a cerclage a procedure that involves placing a stitch around the cervix to keep it closed you don’t think about all the things that could go wrong,” Landry said “You just think it will be all sunshine and roses You don’t realize how strong you are until you go through something like this Jordan and Landry said they had to learn to advocate for the triplets during their NICU stay “I’m the most non-confrontational person ever,” Landry said “But then you realize you are the only voice that they have was a constant presence in Austyn’s NICU room “She knows a lot about everything,” Landry said have you asked about that.’ She’s really been helpful Because I have a lot on my plate and a lot on my mind “When there were days that we couldn’t make it to the hospital [to visit Austyn] our parents were going to the hospital,” Landry said our parents were there to make sure the girls were taken care of we would have been in some serious trouble.” Landry said she has also found a supportive community on Facebook where she has joined groups for moms of triplets She hears stories and advice from other moms and tells her story “I am able to tell them they will get through it,” Landry said I leaned on them a lot to guide me on what to do next.” Jordan said he wants other parents of premature infants to know they are not alone “We’ve had so many people reach out to us to tell us their situation,” Jordan said “No matter what you’re going through you’re not alone.” Now that the waiting is over for Landry and Jordan They’ve set a date for their wedding: March 14 just four months before the triplets will celebrate their second birthday Lady Tigers continue rise on the soccer field Death doula opens practice in parish to offer support guidance to dying patients and their families Avery Stromeyer was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was just nine days old but that isn’t something the now 6-year-old Luling girl ever lets stop her “It does not hold her back,” her mother Amanda said She takes the lead with her friends … she’s very active.”  Amanda said that while the doctor visits are plentiful all things considered Avery has been able to live a “rather uncomplicated life.” Part of the reason for that has been the great strides that have been made in the medical community in cystic fibrosis research and treatment A medication Avery has taken that was released in recent years as well as other new medications that has been approved in that time span have contributed to what is a now a far better long-range outlook for patients  “That has been showing great strides as far as longevity goes for cystic fibrosis patients the average life expectancy (in her situation) was 35,” Amanda said The foundation helps to fund this research and new therapies And that’s why the Stromeyers continue to promote the cause The second annual Avery’s Army Egg My Yard fundraiser is set for this month with proceeds going to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Those donating toward the fundraiser will have candy and trinket-filled eggs scattered throughout the front yard of their home on the night before Easter setting the stage for a fun Easter egg hunt when children awaken Amanda will be making these deliveries to Luling Metairie and Kenner on April 19 after 7 p.m Avery has two copies of the most common mutation for cystic fibrosis – there are over 200 mutations that can cause it many rare mutations did not have medications targeted to their specific situation I think 90 percent with cystic fibrosis have a drug to take that helps them and that goes back to the work (the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) is doing,” said Amanda Avery was small when she was born at just five pounds Amanda and her husband Stephen noticed their daughter passed a bowel movement every time she drank from her bottle They began visiting a pediatrician in an effort to monitor her weight “They did her heel print and took blood like they would every baby … (the pediatrician) said she tested positive for cystic fibrosis,” Amanda recalled ‘what the heck does this mean?’ It caught us completely off guard We have no family history of it or anything like that.”  Cystic fibrosis is a disease that affects the lungs and digestive system and can create life-threatening complications though treatment can ease symptoms and reduce potential complications The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation holds the Great Strides Walk each year as a fundraiser for its ongoing work to find a cure When the Stromeyers began participating in the walk their team needed a name – Avery’s Army was born This year’s walk is on May 10 in New Orleans Avery is the local ambassador for the Great Strides Walk this year “We’re doing the walk with capes and superhero masks for the theme this year which is ‘Be the hero of your own story,’” Amanda said There will also be a “Princess Tea” fundraiser at the Ashton Plantation Clubhouse on April 13 from 2 p.m with proceeds also going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as Avery’s medical fund Those interested in supporting the cause through the Easter egg or tea party fundraiser may call Amanda Stromeyer at (504) 919-4106 Luling bus driver ‘rings the bell’ as she recovers from cancer  State record holder to host gardening seminar at SCP Library Lapis Carbon Solutions, a carbon capture and sequestration developer and operator, has filed a permit with the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. […] The Des Allemands Carnival Krewe Committee will host the seventh annual Blessing of the Fleet under the Highway 90 bridge in Bayou Des Allemands on Saturday, May 3 from noon to 2 p.m. […]