A Welsh native entered the military during the Cold War with a special duty. It was 1950 and at the age of 19, Joy Lee Snyder was sworn into the United States Marine Corps for Women. The Welsh native was assigned to a base in North Carolina as a top secret courier. "I used to take secret and confidential documents to different officers on the base. I had to carry a briefcase and had to have it locked on my wrist." Joy says she was taken seriously by most of those on ...
92 year old John Griffin remembers his Navy days at Pearl Harbor. Like other servicemen, Griffin was in his teens when he was drafted. "Yeah, I was, I was 18 years old when I went in there. 18. 21 when I got out. I stayed in there 2 years." Serving as a Seaman First Class, Griffin helped move supplies from the U.S. mainland to the war in the Pacific. "We would stack and restack the stuff after it would get there. I don't care what it was: Lumber, anything. flour, oil...
Not too many people can claim they retired from three careers. But Buck Halley did. He signed up for the U.S. Navy during the Korean War before he even finished at Sulphur High. "I went in two weeks before I graduated high school. I still got my diploma. I got there and I went into the medical field. I became a hospital corpsman. I went to hospital corps school." After his medical career in the Navy, Halley went to work for Cities Service. But then he decided that de...
When Al Cochran went to Vietnam in 1967, he had completed the ROTC program at McNeese. He was an Army engineer. "The first thing I built was an airstrip for Caribou and C-123 for Special Forces at Bin Ton." Al went on to maintain roads and other structures for the army. "As we were told, we were stopping Communism and basically we did that. There was a job that needed to be done and I was picked to do that and I did it." Once he got back, he experienced the ant...
A longtime community volunteer with Little League Baseball is retiring this week from his job at the Calcasieu Parish School Board. The name Martin Bilbo, Sr. is familiar to many who are involved in Mid City Little League Baseball. Bilbo coached many youth over the years and even took a team to the Little League World Series in 1992. "We were family. That was the key. If you became family as a team and became one, you'd be successful. You know what the next person wants....
If you've never tried food cooked in a Dutch oven before, this weekend is your chance. The Le Chien Cookers are a chapter of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society that work to promote the art of Dutch oven cooking.
A hot coffee and bacon and eggs -- it's a great way to start the day. and for many it may sound ordinary, but for some veterans in the lake area, it's the first freshly made breakfast in while. Some are disabled, some are injured, some are homeless. regardless of the condition, the American legion wants to take care of them. It's hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary and the American legion, post 179 in Sulphur. "It's a great benefit because they can do this for themselves, they can in...
"We're fixing to turn what was a liability against us into an asset," Westlake Mayor Bob Hardey, said. Ever since the city opened The National Golf Club of Louisiana, it's been missing a clubhouse. "We've been waiting on it forever, we've lost money for forever," Pat Ellender, concerned resident, said. Mayor Hardey said the project could cost up to 4 million dollars, at least 2 million of which Hardey said could be borrowed. "We did not go out t...
The search for the suspect in last Friday's homicide in Topsy has been found. Authorities in Beaumont, Texas spotted a vehicle suspected to be driven by the suspect, David Wade Clark. After being spotted, Clark lead Jefferson Country Sheriff's deputies on a pursuit through a neighborhood. Clark was traveling with a man named Michael Castille from Lake Charles, who had been helping Clark in his travels. The two were able to escape the authorities and abandon the vehicle at a sma...
The Lake Charles Police Department has released its final report after the owner of a local business reported finding rope tied as a noose on the door of his business. KPLC obtained a copy of the final report through a public records request. The Lake Charles Police Department began investigating after Darrell Bennett, the owner of 3topia, posted a Facebook Live showing a rope on the door to his business, saying he had arrived to find it hanging there and tied like a noose. The LCP...
The Humane Society of Louisiana and Allen Parish Sheriff's Office rescued 47 dogs at a residence, according to a Facebook post. Humane Society's post says the dogs had matted hair, heartworms, dental problems, heart murmurs, ear infections, and other injuries. For example, one dog had an abscess in his mouth that created a hole in his face: Humane Society of Louisiana The dogs were found in crates living in urine and filth, says the post. They were malnouri...
The town of Iowa celebrated it's 10th annual Arts and Crafts Festival at the Iowa Community Center Saturday. The event had a petting zoo, live entertainment from New Orleans entertainer Matthew Noel, also known as "The Magic Yo-Yo," and RD 'Red Dog' Hebert. Balloon art will also be provided by "Hobo Bill" and Friends, courtesy of The Shriners. Several local artisans were at the event demonstrating their crafts including basket-...
The Lake Area Radio Kontrol Society celebrated their 50th anniversary Saturday with a Model Aviation Day. Those who attended the event, held at at Larksfield Road in Carlyss, were able to see flying demonstrations throughout the day, Model jets, war birds, helicopters were on display, and in the skies. There were also free introductory flying lessons given so that attendees could test their piloting skills. Bo Hinch, the organizer of the event, says he h...
