Friday, May 17 2013 9:05 PM EDT2013-05-18 01:05:04 GMT
The Southwest Louisiana Tea Party movement began picking up steam in 2009 as members from throughout the five parish area began gathering for rallies and becoming more visible and involved in local governmentMore >>
The Southwest Louisiana Tea Party movement began picking up steam in 2009 as members from throughout the five-parish area began gathering for rallies and becoming more visible and involved in local government and the political scene.More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 8:55 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:55:58 GMT
An arrest has been made in the 1962 death of Mary Horton Vail. Vail was found dead in the Calcasieu River in October 1962, her husband, Felix Vail, claimed she was the victim of a boating accident. TheMore >>
Mary Horton Vail was found dead in the Calcasieu River in October 1962. Her husband, Felix Vail, claimed she was the victim of a boating accident.More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 6:17 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:17:04 GMT
Friday marks the anniversary of the first woman reported missing in the Jeff Davis Eight case. On May 17, 2005, 28-year-old Loretta Chaisson Lewis went missing. Three days later, her body was found floatingMore >>
Friday marks the anniversary of the first woman reported missing in the Jeff Davis Eight case.More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 5:47 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:47:38 GMT
More than 825 students - the largest graduating class in McNeese State University history - are expected to receive degrees at the university's spring commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18,More >>
More than 825 students - the largest graduating class in McNeese State University history - are expected to receive degrees at the university's spring commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at Burton Coliseum.More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 5:44 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:44:31 GMT
In an area prone to hurricanes, flood insurance is important for Louisiana residents. Calcasieu Parish became a part of the National Flood Insurance program in 1978. By participating in the program,More >>
As a way to continue offering flood insurance, Congress passed the Biggert Waters Act in 2012. More >>
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BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
We know more about space than our oceans, but a local author is spreading the word about our gulf coast, and he's only 14.
"I have trouble writing," said Rory McCracken.
Don't let him fool you. Rory McCracken knows his way around the keyboard.
"We had to do a personal essay in English this year," he said.
But he's not at his laptop for schoolwork. Rory is an author.
"We wrote this book, G is for Gulf."
It's an ABC book about life in the Gulf of Mexico. But it's not this 14-year-old's first crack at raising awareness about his favorite topic.
Two years ago, Rory started an internet T-shirt company, Kids Love the Gulf, to raise money for the Louisiana Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Protecting his favorite animals in the wake of the BP oil spill.
"That was probably one of the only things I could do when I was 12 because they won't let a 12-year-old go out on the beach or in a boat to pick up oil," explained Rory.
With his T-shirts, Rory and his friends raised $8,000. T-shirt sales dropped off, but Rory and his friends kept going.
"We just kinda just browsing around the internet, and you just find all this cool stuff."
The book is a collection of fun facts about animals and issues affecting life in and on the gulf that even some lifelong residents don't know.
"I grew up in Louisiana and never knew that there were whales in the Gulf of Mexico," said Meghan McCracken, Rory's mother.
Just as with his T-shirt business, Rory is not keeping a dime from his book sales. For every two books he sells, he makes enough to donate one book to a local school library.
Rory hopes to sell enough books to get them in every middle school library on the coast.
Rory McCracken
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