A local rescue group specializing in saving "throw-away" pit bulls in South Mississippi has saved more than forty dogs in the past year.  Meet Just Cause director Jeanne Montana and find out why she's smitten with a breed that gets a bad rap. 
- story by LB Kovac

​These are fitting mantras for a group tasked with not only saving abandoned and unwanted dogs but also changing public perception to help them find loving forever homes.
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Jeanne Montana is the founder and owner of Just Cause, a Saucier-based rescue group that specializes in pit bull breeds. Originally a bartender by trade, she started the organization after meeting two special pups.

“After Hurricane Katrina, my daughter, who had two pit bulls, had to live with me,” says Montana. “(The dogs) really changed my perception. They were great.”

She became more intrigued, she said, “when the Michael Vick story came out.” Vick, former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was arrested in 2007 for using pit bulls in an illegal dog fighting ring run out of his personal kennel, which he called Bad Newz Kennel.

This intrigue developed into a passion. Montana’s organization now partners with animal shelters along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including our own Hancock County animal shelter, to take “overflow animals,” dogs that the shelter doesn’t have resources to help and that would otherwise face euthanasia.

Pit bulls are one of the least-adoptable dog types in any given shelter. According to a story published in The Washington Post, they are the most common dogs in animal shelters, and the dogs spend, on average, three times as long in the shelter as lookalike breeds.

Of the 1.2 million dogs euthanized in American shelters each year, a vast majority (800,000 - 1 million) are pit bulls.  According to Esquire Magazine, that's about two to three thousand pit bulls killed in this country every day.  
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In addition to saving shelter dogs, Montana also takes in stray dogs or dogs surrendered by their owners. “Lots of people bring in their pits because their landlords won’t let them have them. We also get dogs abandoned for other reasons,” says Montana.

With the help of Just Cause’s dedicated network of workers and volunteers – De Conover, David Snyder, Petra Lafferma, and Denise Hines, among others – Montana gets the dogs veterinarian attention and places them in a foster’s care.

Though Just Cause accepts all dog and cat breeds, Montana continues to specialize in pit bulls. These breeds need special attention, says Montana: “You have to be kind of firm with them.” They also have to fight a prevailing image that they are highly aggressive dogs.

But pit bull breeds aren’t necessarily more aggressive than other dog breeds.

“Pit bull” is a term that covers several breeds. American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and American Bullys are just some of the dogs often referred to as pit bulls. These dogs all have physical characteristics in common – shorter noses, wider jaws and jowls, and compact and muscular bodies – as well as overlapping ancestries, but they’re distinct breeds.

Still, all pit bull breeds get a bad rap. Forbes put the lot at the top of their 2016 “Most Dangerous Dogs” list. Cities across the country have enacted BSL, or breed-specific legislation, requiring owners to have some or all pit bull breeds leashed and muzzled all times in public.

Pit bulls pick up some of their aggressive reputation from the different breed backgrounds. Many pit bull dogs were bred for bull- and bear-baiting shows in the early 1800s. The breeds continue to be popular for dog fighting rings, as evidenced by the Michael Vick story.

Of the more than 8,000 dog-on-human bites collected and recorded by website Dog Breed Info between 2013 and 2016, 674, or about 8%, of the bites came from one breed of dog: the German Shepherd. The American Pit Bull Terrier, the first of the pit bull breeds to make the list, had less than one-third of the recorded bites of German Shepherds.

And a study published by The Atlantic of more than 4,000 dog owners found that diminutive chihuahuas were the “most aggressive” breed. In that same study, owners “consistently ranked (the American Pit Bull Terrier) as one of the least aggressive dogs.”

Montana and her team have to fight this perception every time they put a pit bull up for adoption. “Lots of animals are scared when they come to the shelter,” says Montana. “Pit bulls might look mean, but they are just like other dogs. They’re just more misunderstood.”

Luckily, more people are beginning to see past the pit bull’s brash exterior. In the year that the Just Cause has been operating, it has helped about 40 pit bulls and dogs find their forever homes. These pups are getting the helping hand, or paw, that they deserve. 

Feeling fluffy?  Forget traditional dieting this summer and try a general lifestyle change instead.  
- by Christina Richardson, PhD

Five Tips for Healthy Summer Eating:

1. Eat as close to natural as possible, choosing salads and foods from the garden and farmer’s market with a high water content. Watermelon and leafy greens are wonderful. When you eat foods with a high fat content — protein or carbohydrates — it takes energy to digest and body temperature rises.

2.  Eat less than you do in the winter — you need less fuel to keep your body temperature in balance. Graze throughout the day. Make your regular three meals a day six smaller ones. Think about what your body needs today. Savor what you eat and do not give up what you love. Eat a few French fries, not an entire serving. Deprivation just makes you want something more.
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3.  Move more by parking your car further away from your destination. Take a morning walk. Avoid exercising in the middle of the day. Do a class with friends in yoga or at the gym. Enjoy!

4.  Enlist your friends to help you stay on track. Ask them to join you in eating close to natural, eating less and moving more. No matter what task we set out for ourselves, we accomplish more with a little help from our friends. Some years ago I read the transcript of a sermon given by Dr. Robert McNeish, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Resistertown, Maryland. In 1972 He used the example of geese flying in formation to show how people can work together.

My favorite line is, “The geese flying in formation make loud honking noises, called contact calls, to help them stay together.” Pastor McNeish’s lesson was that we need to make sure that our honking is encouraging, supportive and that it brings out our best. Here is a video based on McNeish’s sermon.
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5.  Remember that tomorrow is another day. Every day is a day to begin again. Stay away from the weight scales. Every day jot down how your body feels. Diets do not work. Lifestyle changes do. 

Award-winning author and syndicated columnist Rheta Grimsley Johnson reflects on the pleasures of being impractical. 

​Find out more about Rheta's books and read her latest syndicated columns at RhetasBooks.com.  Rheta's new gallery/shop, Faraway Places, is located at 102 West Front Street, Iuka, Mississippi.  ​ 

My Girl Scout leader, not so much. I figured I got enough Bible stories in Sunday School and didn’t have the patience for a felt Zacchaeus up a felt sycamore tree.

I’ll have to admit, however, that the bad judgment tag stuck. I’ve been told by my father and two husbands that I make impractical decisions, first cousin to bad. I choose to think of myself as romantic.

I made another such decision just the other day. Impractical, not bad. At least I hope.

I bought a piano. I have no place to put it and couldn’t play it if it did play. Which it does not. Did I mention this was a tad impractical?

For years I’ve wanted an old upright piano. My grandmother had one, could make even the most puritanical, blood-soaked hymn sound like a honky-tonk hit. The figurines she kept on top of the piano danced when she played, and the fat on her upper arms shook to the beat.

After my grandmother died, my aunt sold that iconic upright to a stranger for $50. Better that than let family benefit.

Soon enough I rented a furnished house in Monroeville, Ala., Harper Lee’s hometown. We were caretakers, actually, my former husband and I, settling in amongst the dry-rotting treasures in a rambling mansion in the woods.

The cost we paid for baby-sitting such splendor was $200 a month. The house had an old upright piano. We didn’t have the money to get it tuned properly, but every party centered around the instrument. We were young. There were many parties.

Always there was someone who could coax a tune from the yellowed ivories. I played at the level of “Chopsticks” and “Heart and Soul,” and my grandmother’s favorite stride piano song, “Redwing.”

But planted in me during that brief period was the desire to sit down at a keyboard and become a Scott Joplin, or, better yet, Jerry Lee, a man who could take “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from audio doggerel to Grade-A groove.

So when a friend took me to see an old house she’s buying in the Pass, I couldn’t help but notice the old piano sitting idle in the modified dogtrot. Next thing I knew, I was talking to its owner about what would happen to the treasure.

“It can be yours,” he said. “For $1 and getting it out of here.”

“You were over-charged,” my former husband said when I told him what I’d done. “They usually pay you to get it out of there.” I reminded him of the fun we’d had with the Monroeville upright, but evidently in his maturity he’s forgotten the delight he felt when I taught him the treble part of “Silver Bells.”

I already had realized the impracticality of my purchase after calling Three Men and A Truck – more like 30 men with 15 trucks -- who all put the bottom line for moving a piano at about $400-plus. Turns out, it takes four men to move one safely, and this particular antique was extra heavy.

I knew the piano needed work. Both the furniture and the innards were pretty crusty. So I decided to have the movers shove it into the garage, the only place I could think of big enough to accommodate a piano.

“So you’ll need another $400 to move it out of the garage when you decide where you want it,” my current husband said. Husbands are always demanding you use the soft pedal.

I decided to shoehorn my acquisition into the living room, which necessitated rearranging every piece of furniture in the small house. But it fit.

A practical woman might be sorry about all of this by now. I’m not – practical or sorry. I still think once a piano expert is called in and works on the guts, and a furniture doctor spruces up the outside, and I learn to play something other than “Chopsticks” and “Heart and Soul” and the two recital pieces I remember, I’ll have the last laugh.

Or I’ll sell the piano to another romantic soul for $1.
                 

Tips about picking up great mid-century finds and where to hunt for them in Old Town Bay St. Louis. 
- story and photos by Karen Fineran 

Clean lines and a streamlined, sleek appearance are the characteristics that define mid-century modern furniture, putting the emphasis on function and utility.  With its understated look, less becomes more. 

Without intricate lines or cluttered adornments to distract, mid-century modern style furniture tends to be highly practical, serving many different purposes to meet the demands of the modern lifestyle.  

Form follows function; many furniture designs nest, bend, stack or fold in order to be used more conveniently.  Bold, vibrant colors abound, as do graphic blacks and whites.

Another distinctive feature of MCM furniture is their use of the alternative man-made materials that emerged during World War II.  Post-War designers integrated stainless steel, glass, molded plywood, fiberglass, vinyl, and plastics such as Plexiglass, Lucite and Bakelite into the design of their creations.  Many MCM designers also used natural woods, but the one that tends to predominate is teak wood, with its warmth and strength. 

Popular culture also has helped to bring mid-century modern design into the mainstream.  The AMC series Mad Men, which ran from 2007 to 2016, is an obvious cultural influence. The show's reputation for period accuracy extended to the sets, which were specifically designed to reflect East Coast interiors in the 1960s.

MCM collector Amy Irvin moved to Bay St. Louis two years ago from New Orleans, where she had started her first antique business, MCM Furnishings.  Irving’s collection of retro furnishings, barware, and accessories can now be found at Identity Vintage, at 131 Main Street in Old Town Bay St. Louis.

Amy has been passionate about vintage fashion and design for more than twenty years, beginning her vintage collecting with costume jewelry, dresses, shoes, and fur coats.  Five or six years ago, her collecting focus shifted to mid-century modern furniture.  Amy was attracted to the era because of its style, its aesthetic, and its functionality. 

Amy became particularly enamored with the sophisticated drinking culture of the 50s and 60s and its beautiful barware – like slender cocktail shakers and geometrically-etched martini and cocktail glasses.

In an age when we have seen the price of some other antique furnishing styles soar, Amy appreciates being able to find more inexpensive pieces.  She loves the hunt for the next treasure, a pastime that she can pursue whether she is at home on the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans, or road-tripping about the United States. 

It’s easy to find vintage MCM items that fit your budget, Amy explains.  All you need is one statement piece to set the tone nicely, and you can build the rest of your room around it.  It does not have to be a set, but for best effect, avoid too many patterns and stay within a color range. Sleek and slimmed down furniture in open spaces gives the MCM home a light and airy feel, especially compared to the boxier, darker and heavier furniture styles from other eras.

Suzi Walters, the owner of Identity Vintage, the Main Street vintage store where Amy Irvin’s MCM pieces are found, is also a connoisseur of retro pieces.  Many of the vintage hats and accessories in Suzi’s collection are mid-century modern, and she also creates décor items from mid-century fabrics. 

Suzi also has a passion for collecting and selling vintage vinyl LP albums (she has accumulated nearly 1,000 classic albums in her stock already), and she carries vintage turntables to play them on.  Now, that’s retro mid-century!
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The distinctive MCM furniture style combines beauty, innovation, and function.  Look for mid-century in other Bay St. Louis antique stores as well:  Antique Maison (111 North Second Street), Antique Maison Ulman (317 Ulman Ave.), the French Potager (213 Main Street) and Magnolia Antiques (200 Main Street). Although mid-century isn't the focus of their collections, they often have wonderful MCM items for sale.  

Although finding genuine and timeless mid-century modern articles can sometimes be hit or miss, what better reason could one have to frequent Bay St. Louis’ diverse retail shops to enjoy the search.  Happy hunting, mid-century enthusiasts!

If you're not already an avid fisherman, follow fishing novice and Shoofly columnist Karen Fineran as she learns the basics from the best. 

With bays, marshes, and shallow water containing miles and miles of oyster reefs interrupted by mud flats and sand points, this area is an ideal habitat for speckled trout, redfish, black drum, flounder, sheepshead, pompano, and more.

The Tackle Shop and Billy Ray

My first stop was The Tackle Shop, at the corner of Third and Washington in Bay St. Louis
(264 Washington St, 228-220-7114). 

​As I pulled up to the store, owner Billy Ray Sanders, was ambling outside with a lanky nine-year-old boy and his mother.  The boy scurried back and forth to his mom’s car, filling it with fishing tackle and line. 

Billy Ray busied himself with setting the drag on the boy’s new fishing rod and reel.  The man and boy stood together on the lawn next to the parking lot and practiced casting.  Billy Ray gently corrected the boy’s technique.

After the family left, I sat down with Billy Ray and asked if I could pick his brains a bit.
 
Billy Ray told me he opened his tackle shop about two years ago on the corner of Washington and Third, only two blocks from the Washington Street pier and boat launch.  He has been a serious fisherman since he moved from New Orleans to Hancock County in 1981.

 The Tackle Shop sells all the lures that are most effective for our area (Billy Ray’s favorite lures are Vortex Shad and Matrix Shad), as well as frozen bait for saltwater fishing, rod and reels, fishing tackle, ice, snacks and drinks, and durable LED flounder lights that he makes himself.  The walls of his shop are lined with lures, nets, hooks and lines.  Dozens of rods stand in racks, and shiny reels beckon from glass cases.

The first question I pose is, “Why is Hancock County such a popular fishing destination for veteran anglers?” 

“There are just so many different places to go fishing here, either with or without a boat,” he replied, “or you can use a kayak or a small flat bottom boat.  We have six public piers in the Bay-Waveland area alone, just from Cedar Point to Bayou Caddy!

"I personally own two fishing boats, but I find myself night fishing under the lights on the piers more than I ever go out on the boat. 

“Also, you can go crabbing – kids love it so much.  There’s just a lot of variety of fish in our waters -- from “reds” and “specks” to drum and flounder.  And of course, catfish.” 

I learned that he was referring to redfish, and spotted (speckled) trout.  Also plentiful in our waters are red snapper, both black and red drum, sheephead, ground mullet, Tripletail, Spanish or King mackerel, cobia, sea trout, flounder, and the highly prized “Inshore Slam” (trout, flounder and redfish in the same catch). 

Big speckled trout are caught early in the morning at first light on the Gulf Coast’s artificial reefs with top-water lures all during the late spring, summer and fall. 

“Seasoned fishermen who have a boat can roam anywhere they want to go to target the fish species they’re shooting for; you’ve got from the reefs to the marshes, from Jourdan River (especially in winter) to Redfish Bayou, Campbell’s Bayou, Three Oaks Bayou, or the Pearl River, to name just a few.”
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Other favorite Bay St. Louis fishing spots include the Bay of St. Louis train bridge (live bait fished on the bottom can catch white trout, flounder, redfish, black drum and sheepshead); the Highway 90 Bridge (when the white trout are biting, there may be as many as two dozen boats fishing the bridge at the same time); the Dupont Piers (two piers at Dupont’s pigment plant on the north shore of the Bay of St. Louis), the Jimmy Rutherford fishing pier at the harbor, the Washington Street pier, and the Cutoff Bayou at the Jourdan River (when the weather turns cold, the trout stack up near the bottom).

Billy Ray also enthused about Hancock County Marsh Living Shoreline Project.  Well underway and already nearing completion, the project is building a “living shoreline” of natural and artificial breakwater materials from Bayou Caddy to Pearl River. 

To reduce erosion and encourage reestablishment of habitat that was once present in the region, the Shoreline Project team is constructing about 5.9 miles of living breakwater seeded with rocks and rubble that will encourage oysters to bed and attract more fish. 

They are also creating new salt marsh habitat, and approximately 46 acres of subtidal crushed limestone reef in Heron Bay.   (Billy Ray reported that he had already caught some sizeable speckled trout there.)

“Ideally, we’ll be able to turn it into something like Lake Ponchartrain’s fishery,” says Billy Ray. 

​“Besides the great fishing that the living shoreline will bring, it will also help save our coastline from erosion.  I’m hoping that DMR (Mississippi Department of Marine Resources) would plant some sea grass there to build a habitat for speckled trout, too.”

 “This area is going to have the best fishing in Mississippi, hands-down.  In a few years, fishermen won’t have to go out into Louisiana marshes to fish.  Even now, Bay St. Louis is a better place for Louisiana fishermen to launch their boats; they can launch at Washington Pier and then it’s a straight shot over to the Louisiana marshes.  And soon, it’s going to be on fire here in Hancock County!”

Getting Started

But, if someone has never really fished much before, I ask him, what’s the best way to get started here?  I want to jump in!

It quickly becomes obvious that Billy Ray is no stranger to advising fishing novices.  “Basically, there are two kinds of fishing,” he explains, “live bait fishing and lure fishing.  Live bait fishermen use fresh or frozen shrimp or cocahoe minnows or mullet, and you can do it year round here.  Differences in the weather and water conditions will affect where the fish can be found and what bait they will bite at, of course.”

Billy Ray explains that the “tried and true method” for novice fisherfolk is bottom fishing.  He likes to start “newbies” off with a bottom rig, hook and sinker, called a “Carolina rig.”  “If you want to know whether the fish are on the top, suspended, or close to the bottom, you use just enough weight to send the shrimp bait down as slowly as possible, and then you can figure out where they’re hanging out.”

 “In the summertime, lure fishermen start fishing as early in the morning as they can get up, usually before daybreak.  They’ll use top-water lures, usually until some point in the mid-morning when the top-water fish may stop biting.”  In winter, the fish go deeper, lurking at 4 to 8 feet under the surface to try to escape the cold.  For winter fishing, Billy Ray has had great success using lip bait to troll.

“Choosing the right method can make you look like a fishing machine, hauling in fish left and right, while the poor guy anchored next to you might not get a bite."

Billy Ray’s best general advice for boat fishermen?  “Look for shell and oyster reefs, and try to land where you see shells on the bank.  Always keep your eyes open for seagulls and other diving birds going after bait fish – that means big fish are there too.” After the surface fish stop biting (if they ever do), Billy Ray moves to deeper oyster bars, fishing them with either live shrimp or soft lures.

What about the basic fishing equipment a novice needs to acquire before she can throw her first cast?  I asked. 

“I like to keep it real simple for newcomers,” he said.  “I’ll look at the person in front of me, his age, size, hand and arm strength, skill level, whether or not he or she has ever fished before. . . . If I don’t think a spinning reel is a good idea, then I’ll suggest a push button reel.  Everybody is different; I’ll look at their height for the rod length.”

Billy Ray also hands out advice on what weight sinkers anglers should choose under the present conditions, when the angler should change out his lure color, depending upon the clarity of the water, and which type of live bait or lure to use. 

“Don’t forget to get the right fishing license too,” he adds.  “Everybody from age 16 to 64 needs to have a fishing license.”  The easiest way to purchase a fishing license is online.

For Mississippi residents, a freshwater fishing license is $10 per year (which includes small game hunting).  A saltwater fishing license is also $10 per year.  A three-day freshwater fishing license is just $3.  (All license prices are higher for non-residents than for residents.)  If you’re 65 or over, you can purchase a lifetime saltwater license for just $5! 

Children fifteen and under, seniors 65 and over, and the disabled are exempt from the requirement to carry a fishing license, but they still need to carry the right documentation to show proof of age or disability.

If you’re fishing in Mississippi’s brackish waters, and you’re not sure whether you need a freshwater or a saltwater license, the rule is that a saltwater license is required to fish anywhere south of Highway 90, a freshwater license is required to fish anywhere north of I-10, and between Highway 90 and I-10, either a saltwater or freshwater license will suffice.  

Find out all the Mississippi fishing regulations here.  ​

Bay Marina and RV Park 

My next stop was the Bay Marina and RV park in Bay St. Louis on the Edwards bayou (at the end of Washington Street, 100 Bay Marina Drive, 228-466-4970).  It’s an easy place to launch a boat, only a mile from the Edwards Bayou to the Jourdan River (about a ten-minute idle ride), and then four miles across the St. Louis Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

Bay Marina is a full service facility for boaters and fishermen, with a boat launch, a fuel dock with non-ethynol gasoline, a live bait shop, an outdoor Tiki Bar overlooking the Edwards bayou, and a pump-out station.  Hundreds of outdoor boat racks, slips, and dry storage are available. 

The RV park is enormous, and a second RV park with another thirty spaces is opening there soon.  The RV spots are generally used by weekend fishermen from Hattiesburg and other parts of north Mississippi.  This is where you can get your live bait (Billy Ray’s Tackle Shop sells only frozen, as fresh bait is more difficult for a solo storeowner to handle.)  Bay Marina sells cocahoe minnows throughout the year, and live shrimp until the first freeze.
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I spoke with the amiable owner, Bob Castoro, who pulled up in his golf cart while I was checking out his live bait fish.  He told me that he’s been fishing most of his life, and loves running “the local neighborhood marina.” 

In Bay St. Louis these days, he says, “everyone is ‘speck crazy’” (for fishing speckled trout).  “From now through the fall, we can usually limit out on speckled trout and redfish in just a morning of fishing.  We want to be out on the water as soon as there is enough light to fish by,” Bob remarks.  

“Even when the water and weather conditions are bad, we can always catch fish in Bay St. Louis.”  Castoro drove off with a friendly “Tight lines and good fishin’!”

Charter Fishing 

Another way for a beginner to launch herself into Mississippi fishing, without first buying any fishing equipment, researching local hot spots, or doing even a lick of prep work, is to take a charter fishing trip. 

Several companies offer charter fishing here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including Shore Thing Fishing Charters (228-466-4970) and Fisher-Man Guide Services in Pass Christian (228-323-1115).  On a charter boat, a knowledgeable guide can help you find the type of fish that you want to catch. 
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Trips usually last from three to eight hours, and prices for a day or a  half-day on the water range from about $250 to $800 (depending on the number of hours and the number of anglers on the boat).  Prices generally include your fishing licenses, live bait, fish cleaning and bagging, snacks and iced beverages, and use of the company’s rods and reels and tackle.

For up to date information about fishing in Bay St. Louis in any season, be sure to refer frequently to the Bay St. Louis/Pass Christian Fishing Report.

For information on all kinds of fishing in Mississippi, check out DMR's Go Fishing site.

Bay St. Louis is a great place to fish, whether you’re just learning or you’ve been fishing for fifty years, and whether you’re looking for a fun day with the family or a hard-core fishing adventure with your buddies. 

So, clear the weekend calendar, it’s time to cast those lines!

A new rescue group in central Mississippi nurses wounded turtles back to health, as well as providing information for those wanting to foster suburban habitat for these fascinating creatures.  
- story by Ellis Anderson 

Christy says there are several things residents can do to make their yards turtle-friendly.  Don’t use pesticides or herbicides, especially if you’ve seen turtles in your yard.  Plant a garden – they provide great turtle habitat.  Before mowing, check your yard for those who might be in harm's way.  And keep watch if you have large dogs, which sometimes use turtles as chew toys.  

Christy and her husband Luke rehabilitate turtles that have had unfortunate encounters with canines, although most of their patients come from “road carnage.” 

They work with veterinarians to nurse the turtles back to health, then release them back in the area where they were found.  If their patient is permanently disabled, they care for them until a special needs home can be found.  

But dogs and cars aren’t the only foes of turtles.  Intentional harm by humans causes some turtle deaths and maimings. 

A few misguided fishermen have been known to shoot turtles in the mistaken belief that they’re eating potential catches.  Turtles can also be targets for both adults and kids who are practicing firearm skills.  And there are the heartless drivers will purposely try to hit a turtle crossing a road.
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“Sadly, we do see ones that have been hurt by malice,” says Christy.

From Admirer to Rescuer

Christy came by her love of turtles as a child, appreciating  their peaceful natures and the fact they carried their homes on their backs.  She never lost the love. In 2006, when a neighbor found a three-legged turtle on a burn pile, he thought of the Milbournes – he’d seen turtle figurines in their house. 
 
Thus began a decade of intensive education, networking with turtle experts around the country, and the adoption of Booboo. 

Booboo was a 17-year-old Redfoot Tortoise raised in a small tank by well-intentioned owners in Maryland.  Due to a poor diet and his small environment, his shell was deformed enough to prevent use of his back legs.  Surrendered to another rescue group, the Milbournes adopted Booboo in 2010.  He became a beloved and spoiled member of their family.  

According to a veterinarian specialist, Booboo wasn’t in pain, but would have a shorter lifespan.  The predication came true, when, despite the pampering from the Milbournes, the tortoise passed away in 2012.  His death solidified their dreams of dedicating even more of their time to turtle rescue. 

Both Milbournes still work full-time for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, but the non-profit they have formed works to raise awareness with people in addition to healing wounded turtles. 
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Their website explains why it’s an awful idea to paint turtle shells (their shells are living tissue that will absorb toxins) or remove them from their natural habitats (they’ll spend the rest of their lives trying to get home).  The rescue success story page makes for fascinating – and heartwarming – reading. ​

Want to help a turtle cross a road?  You’ll find complete instructions for that on the website as well: 

• Only stop when it’s safe for you and other drivers
• Never pick a turtle up by its tail (they feel pain and you might break their spinal cord)
• Always place it on the side of the road it was headed toward.  If you place it back where it came from, the persistent critter will just try again. 

For turtle emergencies, simply go to the website’s Contact Us page for instant advice.
    
“If you come across a wounded turtle, don’t assume it can’t live,” Christy says. “They’re incredibly tough.  We work closely with a coast organization called Wild At Heart, so someone can help.” 

The website also hosts an informative photo gallery, showing every type of turtle found in the state.  According to Christy, the Mississippi coast is home to almost every one of them, 35 species.
 
 Lucky for us – and the Millers.

Live Music:  
~ Christian Serpas and Ghost Town at the Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street), 6pm - 9pm.  
~ Dave Mayley Band, Daiquiri Shak (112 Court Street), 5pm - 9pm.  

​Jamie Temple is no stranger to the hospitality business. As a young man in New Jersey, he helped out with his grandparents’ diner, which looked like an old rail car.
 
Today, he owns one of Bay St. Louis’s most charming breakfast and lunch spots, the Buttercup Cafe.
 
“We serve uncomplicated comfort food,” Temple said. 
 
Eggs, omelets, scrambles, sandwiches, salads, quiches, soups, burgers, pancakes and more are available all day.
 
“You can order a burger at 7 a.m. and a crawfish omelet moments from closing time,” Temple said.
 
Rumor has it, the Rueben sandwich rivals some in New York delis. Other favorites include shrimp & grits, the flame-broiled yellow fin tuna salad, Cuban sandwiches and wraps. The Buttercup also specializes in freshly baked pastries from in-house recipes. 
 
There are no fryers at The Buttercup. Even the hash browned potatoes are baked, then grilled.
 
“The potatoes are so good, we name ’em,” Temple said.
 
If al fresco dining is your thing, the Buttercup’s porch and patio are the perfect (pet friendly!) place to perch for a morning or midday bite. Inside, the walls are covered in vibrant Southern folk art.
 
“I get a kick when New Orleans artists come over and see their stuff on the walls,” Temple said. 
 
The Buttercup Cafe is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Temple says he enjoys his “breakfast club” regulars, but also loves seeing the Bay through the eyes of all the new tourists. 
 
The Buttercup doesn’t take reservations, but Temple always says it’s a nice place to take your mother to breakfast. Whether it’s a sleepy Tuesday morning or a busy Mother’s Day Sunday, Temple and his staff are waiting to welcome you with a hot cup of coffee, a cool drink and food for every taste.
 
“We get so many wonderful visitors in the restaurant — Bay St. Louis is like Mayberry with a beach.” 

​For Second Saturday, the Daiquiri Shak will host the Dave Mayley Band from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
 
Rhonda and Gus Finnely’s weekend getaways to the Bay have become a second life.
 
Rhonda and her husband, along with their son Caleb, have opened the Daiquiri Shak in Old Town on Court Street.
 
Recently retired from banking, Rhonda is enjoying her new lease on life behind the counter at the Daiquiri Shak, mixing and naming new flavors for the folks of Bay St. Louis. 
 
The nautical and beachy theme of the Daiquiri Shak is carried through to names of new daiquiris like Beach Bum, Mermaid Juice, Blue Hawaiian and Cajun Cadillac. Of course, standard favorites like margarita, hurricane, strawberry, pina colada, 190 octane, white Russian and more are available. 
 
The offerings have grown each month. The Shak now has ten machines, up from their original six, and one still dedicated to virgin daiquiris. The family has come up with 40 different flavor combinations, but the possibilities are endless as they will mix any flavor combination requested. 
 
Daiquiri Shak also offers seasonal favorites, like their signature Mardi Gras Mambo and King Cake daiquiri for carnival season and egg nog for the holidays. `
 
“The Mardi Gras Mambo was so popular that we are still carrying it,” Rhonda said.
 
This summer look for new flavors like Peach Bellini, and for Cinco de Mayo expect some new margarita flavors and specials to hit the menu. 
 
Thanks to Bay St. Louis’s new go-cup friendly laws, the daiquiris have been a big hit in Old Town, popular for the special events, Second Saturdays and perfect for sipping on the beach. 
 
“A lot of our customers love taking our drinks to the beach,” Rhonda said.
 
The shop also offers seating and televisions for those who want to sit and cool off. 

Robbie MacDougal, Shetland Sheepdog and canine journalist, introduces a few of the regular winter time pet residents of Bay Hide Away in Lakeshore.  Most will be headed north soon.  See you next year! 

Silly from Wisconsin
My cat Silly, she can love you one minute & hiss at you the next. She loves to travel in our motor home. Silly sleeps on a rug on the dash and sometimes she even wants to drive. She loves Bay Hide Away Campground. She loves to watch the birds & has lots of sunshine for all her naps. Silly's quite vocal when she wants to eat, especially at 2am. But all in all, we wouldn't trade her.  She's our little girl.

Marco Polo from USA
This is my mugshot from the paper shredding incident.  But I was framed, the cat did it!  After my rescue from Alabama and transport to Connecticut, I found my forever home.  I now travel the country in a travel trailer (which is a whole lot easier to guard than a house) with my human.  I get to sniff new places, score treats from new neighbors, and ride in a truck.  But the place I have the most fun and spend the most time is Bay Hide Away.  It's nice to have a place to come home to when you're 'On the go'.  Marco Polo.

The next time she wouldn’t come back in! I would see her outside the door but she would run and hide as soon as I opened the door. After three days, we had to trick her and catch her in a live trap.  She stayed inside for the rest of our four-month stay. 

This year, when we came back to Bay Hide Away RV Park, we worked with her outside during the day again, letting her explore near the motorhome.  Now she is happily sleeping all day inside and going outside at night.

​This is the place to be for all of us who live here full time and those who come and see us. Who knows the next dog you see walking down the street on the end of a leash could be from Michigan or Wisconsin or Iowa – anywhere.
 
Gentle readers, Daisy told me I need to end with her special sign off so, keep your tail high and your feet dry.

​Love, Robbie

Ana’s Cafe offers the best in tasty baked goods and diner staples in Waveland.  And don't forget the donuts!
- story and photos by Lisa Monti

The sweet fried dough practically melted in one bite, a decadent reminder of how deliciously addictive a superior donut can be. And yes, the second donut hole was just as airy and fabulous, the perfect mix of sweet, salty and fat.

​​When our breakfast orders arrived, both were tasty and plentiful, just what the first meal of the day should be. Ana’s Special holds top billing on the menu with classic fare: 2 eggs any style, grits or hash browns, toast or biscuit. Add bacon, sausage or ham or pancakes if you need more fuel. The daily special was a hearty omelet built around spinach and mushrooms, with hash browns and a large biscuit for good measure.
 
If you prefer a sweet start to the day rather than a savory breakfast, relax and enjoy. The display case in Ana’s Cafe is filled with enormous cinnamon rolls, flaky Danishes, crispy shoe soles, rich chocolate croissants, strudels, turnovers, apple fritters and muffins. And beignets. Yes, beignets. As the sign says, “Beignets Always Hot!”
 
Lunch at Ana’s is standard hearty fare, too. The menu includes roast beef, burgers, hamburger steak, pork chops, salads, chicken tenders and wings and shrimp grilled or fried. 
There’s also a daily lunch special Monday through Friday.

 But back to those amazing glazed donuts that lucky customers have been sampling. They haven’t been on the menu, but they’re coming back. Ana’s will begin serving donuts on April 28 but only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You can call in your orders.
 
Ana’s Cafe is open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

Pirate Day is the Bay is centered around a pirate named Captain Longbeard, but it turns out that he's a shipmate of the fictional Jack Sparrow.  
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

The Krewe has created a mock-history based on the real deal, a story that’s much more colorful that the rather dry history and features a fictional character called Captain Longbeard (each year played by the current king of the Krewe). 

Captain Longbeard is now taking on legendary status.  John Rosetti, 2017 president of the KOTMS, says he found it hilarious last year when one television station talked about Longbeard as if he were a real historical figure.  

“He was just something I drew up on a napkin,” says Rosetti, laughing as he recalls how the character was created.  

The actual historical event at the center of all this merriment happened in 1814 as a precursor to the more famous “Battle of New Orleans.”  The Sea Horse was an American schooner that single-handedly took on the British fleet in a “David versus Goliath” encounter, right in front of the Bay St. Louis shoreline.  

While the little ship was hopelessly out-manned, it managed to delay British forces, giving Andrew Jackson (who was commanding American forces in New Orleans) more desperately needed time to organize that city’s defense and keep control of the Mississippi River out of British hands. 

Since the event occurred two centuries ago, accounts of the battle vary, but as local historian Charles Gray often says, “history is lies agreed upon.”  The most riveting part of Gray’s version occurred when an older woman on crutches shouted to shore-side onlookers of the battle “Will no one fire a shot in the defense of our country?” 

She then grabbed a lit cigar being smoked by Bay St. Louis Mayor Toulme and lighted the fuse to a cannon, which fired into the midst of the British attackers.  Mayhem ensued. 

The battle’s connection to pirates is very tenuous, but the Battle of the Bay did take place in 1814 when buccaneer types abounded in the area.  In fact, legend has it that the real legendary pirate, Jean Lafitte, had a house on the beach near the BSL/Waveland line.

And historians do agree that a few weeks after the Bay St. Louis battle, Lafitte and his band of ruffians fought alongside Andrew Jackson in New Orleans to repel the British invaders – a battle that probably would have been lost without the pirates’ help.    

But don’t let the facts stop the fun.  Captain Longbeard – this year played by MKOTS king Al Copeland – will be storming the town on the weekend of May 19th and 20th.  

If you’d like to read more, details of the actual battle can be found here on the Krewe of Seahorse’s website. 
​
Also, Charles Gray suggests reading Paul La Violette’s 2003 book,  Sink or Be Sunk! The Naval Battle in the Mississippi Sound That Preceded the Battle of New Orleans.  It’s available at Bay Books on Main Street.

A forgettable "green shoebox" house becomes an elegant showstopper with the vision and tenacity of this derring-do couple. 
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

This remarkable teacher and community volunteer discovers a lifetime of giving comes back around during a recent benefit drive on her behalf.   
- story by Ana Balka

Two veteran garage sale organizers share a detailed list for a successful - and profitable - event! 
- story by Susan McManus and Christina Richardson

​There has even been a National Garage Sale Day since 2001.  

These sales can be very modest. It can be just a family or two, or an event with multiple providers of stuff. Size matters to some. This past March 3 and 4 there was a seven-mile garage sale in Kiln, Mississippi. The fall repeat of the sale will be on the third Saturday in October.

There are some massive sales that extend over longer distances than the one in the Kiln. One that is really fun is the Route 50 yard sale. This year it was held May 19–21. It started in Indiana in 2000 to promote tourism along US 50 and to unite communities for fundraising.
Depending on where you are, these sales are also known as rummage sales, yard sales, attic sales, tag sales, lawn sales, junk sales and even beach sales.

The history of these sales we think goes back to the 16th century, when miscellaneous cargo stored in the hold of ships went unclaimed or was damaged. This cargo would be hauled off the ship and sold on the docks. The same practice was used for damaged or unwanted goods from storehouses.

By the 1890s, rummage sales were commonly held at a communal location such as a park or church for a charitable cause or to raise money for the church. After the end of World War II, people had more money; there were new consumer goods so they could buy more stuff. The 1950s and ’60s were times of acquisition and the ’70s were times of getting rid of all that stuff.

For the past few yearsFriends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County has hosted a fall and a spring yard sale. We were happy with our sales, and the volunteers were still friends when all was over and done. We have found that buyers who understand the reason for the sale are more likely to pay what the asking price is because the revenue goes to charity.

A successful effort includes the right attitude going in and paying attention to four areas: presale, preparation, implementation, and wrapping up.

But first, attitude: Know why you are having the sale and what your expectations are. Plan on buyers looking for a bargain and asking you to reduce the prices for items you think are worth a certain amount. You are selling “treasures,” not stuff.

Treat your customers well, reminding them of your mission and negotiating gracefully. Some people are looking for bargains, while others want things to resell. Your goal is to give the customer a bargain, sell as much as possible, and to enjoy the experience.

Presale

Before the sale select the dates and location for the sale. Usually the best days are Friday and Saturday around midmonth. Check to see what other events are planned in your area so you are not in competition. Avoid holiday weekends.

Select the time for the sale, such as 8–2 or 7–3. People will come before and after but it’s best to have a designated time. Solicit volunteers. Having enough people to help is crucial, as this is a very labor-intensive function. Since there are many facets to a successful sale, volunteers can be involved in some or all of them, as they are able.

Location is very important. Pick a main thoroughfare if possible, with ample parking and easy access. Include address and sale times on all publicity.

Publicity includes such avenues as Facebook, websites, craigslist, newspapers, and signs.

Signage is very important and signs should be placed at intersections within a several-mile radius of location. Designate volunteers to put out the signs the day before the sale and collect them the day after. Make them generic enough to be reused, i.e. Yard Sale, Friday and Saturday, 8 to 2 PM, and address. Don’t include too much information, and use big lettering that is easy to read.

Next, get the word out — not just about the sale, but also to solicit donations. Remind donors to give you items that are clean, not broken, and are ready to display. Have a specified location and time for these donors to drop off their items. Ask donors to pre-price if possible and offer to collect larger items if you have that capability.

Tables are a must, and there needs to be a lot of them. Ask volunteers and donors to bring tables to sale location prior to sale.

Preparation

Setup requires many volunteers and is hard work. Tables must be arranged in columns with easy traffic pattern for customers to browse. Try not to use the ground to display items, but raise them up for easier viewing. Cover tables with tablecloths or sheets if they are not pristine; it is less distracting and makes items look nicer.

Unpack items from donors and be sure they are priced. They should be placed in designated areas depending on category. Do not put out soiled or stained items or junk. Be selective. Besides tables there should be some equipment to hang clothing, hangers, and poles, shoe racks, etcetera. Display of items is also very important.

Neatness is key. Constant vigilance of items by volunteers keeps thing from getting messy and disorganized during sale. Open spaces should be filled constantly. Collect boxes, have bags, and bubble wrap in reserve for sales at checkout.

Implementation

Sale items should be sorted and displayed by category. This includes glassware, china, kitchen, electronics, small appliances, luggage, bric-a-brac, media, art, frames, music, children’s toys, games and puzzles, sports and exercise, linens, pets, lighting, jewelry, decorations, holidays, bathroom, hobbies and crafts, clothing, miscellaneous.

Clothing should be subdivided into adults, men and women, children, costumes, accessories, shoes, and bags. Books should be separated into fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, how-to books, and so on if possible. Furniture should be placed in front of sale area as that always attracts buyers. Volunteers need to replace items that customers move to appropriate areas.

Designate one person to be in charge of the money and to be in a location where customers can pay and have items bagged or packed. Volunteers can collect money but should always bring it to the money person after the sale. Money person should periodically remove large bills and place them in a secure location and never leave the moneybox unattended.

Pricing should be reasonable and items should be priced to sell. Evaluate donations, and price them fairly. Deals can be made with individual customers, but beware of the professional bargainer or dealer, as they can be very forceful. If items are priced fairly and reasonably there is no need for bargaining.  

Offer to stack potential sale items by the money person so customers can continue browsing. Give them a small box to carry and fill with things before checkout. Volunteers need to be visible and available to answer questions and possibly show customers how something works or point out special items of interest. Don’t be too pushy, though, as people like to be left alone for most part.

Unfortunately, volunteers also have to be vigilant and watch for theft. There should also be a contingency plan for overnight and inclement weather, such as tarps and plastic sheets. Even though times are listed on signs there are always people who want to look after sale hours, just ask them politely to come back next day, or apologize that it is over.

Post Sale

After the sale is over, volunteers should pack up all remaining items in boxes and decisions should be made ahead of time about what to do with leftover stuff. It can be stored for next sale, donated to a thrift store, or discarded. This is another labor-intensive task, and may require different volunteers. Sale area should be left clean and garbage placed at curb for pickup. Tables should be collected by owners and all signs picked up and stored.

Treat your volunteers well. Donuts, pizza, and water go a long way to make the work more pleasant and you will get more volunteers next time.

A few days after the sale have a follow-up meeting to discuss what worked, what needs improvement and when the next sale is to be. Let all volunteers know how much they contributed and what the funds raised will be used for. Thank everyone multiple times — they worked hard.

Bay St. Louis teaching artists are part of a growing trend called "experience vacations" - where visitors take home new skills along with fun coastal memories. 
- story by Lisa Monti

The Shoofly's Art Teachers page is now a permanent community resource, so share with friends and visitors!  You'll find it under our "Local Info" menu (at the top of every page).  

The 7,500-square-foot facility at the corner of Washington Street and Central Avenue, houses a state-of-the-art pottery studio with eight wheels, multiple electric and Raku kilns and handbuilding equipment. There’s also a yoga/dance studio, metalworking shop and multimedia maker space. 
 
Steve Barney, the CAC’s director, has ambitious plans to make it a destination for snowbird artists. “There is a large demographic of semi-retired professionals in colder climates who are avid artists and are looking for opportunities to combine studio time with a mid-winter coastal retreat,” he said.
 
Barney is teaming  up with Kevin Jordan, owner of Gulf View properties, to offer all-inclusive two- and four-week artisan retreat packages. Guests will be housed in Jordan’s guesthouses, studios and vacation homes within a block or two from the CAC.

“We will pick them up at the airport and provide them with everything they need to be a Bay artist in residence at the CAC,” Barney said. A typical day includes morning yoga, studio instruction, a midday group meal and open studio. 
 
In addition to pottery and metalworking classes, artists can explore other mediums such as stained glass and silkscreening. 
 
Local transportation options include a shared golf cart and fleet of beach cruiser bikes. Weekend excursions into New Orleans and other coastal destinations are planned. The first artisan retreat package is scheduled for January 13–February 17, 2018. 
 
“Interest in our artisan retreat programs has been strong and we expect this program to grow slowly over time as word gets out,” Barney said.
 
For those not requiring accommodations or are interested in special arrangements, the CAC offers customized packages to visiting artists.
 
To book a spot in the 2018 retreat or for other information about CAC programs, email Steve Barney sbarney@gmail.com or call/text 228-342-7668.

Regan Carney is an acclaimed potter who produces functional fine art in clay in her studio in the Bay Artists’ Coop at 415 S. Necaise Avenue. She received a BFA in 1980 from Tulane University and has made and shown clay art in Santa Fe, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Bay St. Louis.
 
Her work is widely featured, including locally in Gallery 220 and the Lawson Studio. Carney teaches beginner through master level classes at the coop.
 
“I am happy to teach any level in general or specific techniques. I teach both throwing on the wheel or handbuilding functional ware or sculptural forms. Usually throwing takes the most amount of time,” she said.
 
To make the experience the best it can be, Carney requires at least three weeks’ lead time to set up a private workshop for one up to six students.
 
“I need to know the level of expertise, if there is any, and if there is to be a focus.
I also need to know how long they are going to be in the area and how much of that time do they want to spend in the studio,” said Carney. Her workshops have been two days to six weeks. “Communication is key with this kind of workshop,” she said.
 
For more information, call 228-216-0210.

To take a peek at the variety of creations hatching at 102 Blaize Avenue (across from the Duck Pond), visit the Facebook page for The Nest – A Comfy Place to Create.

The Gulf Coast's on-going battle with Formosan termites will have us swatting the swarmers this May as the over-achieving insects scout out more trees, homes - and boats - to devour. 
- story by Ellis Anderson  

Third-generation painting contractor Chris Hansen explains the philosophy behind the success, which has become a family motto: "Quality control is everything."
- story by Ellis Anderson 

Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke reports on the long-awaited Waveland Lighthouse going out for bid, other civic projects and improvements and the St. Clare Seafood Festival over Memorial Day weekend. 

This construction project is the prefect addition to the foot of the Coleman Avenue beachfront. It will add another major attraction to the area, which now features the Garfield Ladner Memorial Pier, a volleyball court, a large parking area and the Veteran’s Memorial. The Waveland Lighthouse is a functional building and gathering area that fills a big need on the Waveland beach front.

St Clare Seafood Festival

​The St. Clare Seafood Festival has grown into the marquee festival in Hancock County for the Memorial Day weekend. The festival runs Friday, May 26, 5–11 p.m., Saturday, May 27, 11 a.m.–11 p.m., and Sunday, May 28, noon to 10 p.m.
 
The festival features food, carnival rides, craft vendors, and the best free Memorial Day weekend live entertainment anywhere on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. On Friday evening, Category 6 will be performing; Saturday evening, Forest Tradition will be performing; and Got Groove will be closing out the festival on Sunday evening. There is also classic car show starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday on the church grounds.
 
In addition to the festival, the 5th annual St. Clare Seafood Festival 5K race will take place on the Waveland boardwalk on Saturday, May 27, at 8 a.m. See run/walk registration details here .
 
Please make plans to have a good time while supporting St. Clare this Memorial Day weekend.

Waveland News and Notes
 

• The stage at Martin Luther King Park will be named in honor of Clarence Harris.

 

• Waveland received around $70,000 in road and bridge money from Hancock County Board of Supervisor. The streets that will be paved will be determined in several weeks once Waveland is able to compile cost estimates.

 

• The Bienville Drive road flooding issue should be completed by July 1.