Draws Hundreds Think It Will Pass This Time,” He Said
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HigH scHooL BaseBaLL Lakeside takes weekend win over Evangel PAGE 6 MINDEN RESS ERALD P -H www.press-herald.com April 27, 2015 | 50 Cents MONDAY INSIDE today arts in MinDen Louisiana LegisLature Lake Bistineau bill goes to Artist finds meaning after filming documentary House floor NEWS PG.2 Monday MICHELLE BATES [email protected] A House bill to create revenue for Lake Bistineau that will help in the fight against giant salvinia is expected to go to the floor Monday. Kennedy Dent paints Olivia Velarice’s face Saturday during the 21st annual Spring Arts Festival known House Bill 228, authored by state as ChickenStock. Bruce Franklin/Press-Herald Rep. Gene Reynolds, if passed would dedicate $300,000 of the state’s mineral income from activities on certain water Best Kare bottoms of Lake Journey Bistineau to weevil pro- duction for control of Style Show giant salvinia on t he lake. In years past, Reynolds REYNOLDS LIFE PG.5 ChickenStock says, the bill did not make it. This year is a little different in that some things were amended that he feels will help it move forward. “We amended it a little bit, and I draws hundreds think it will pass this time,” he said. The proposed law would dedicate the funds from of the state leases, royal- MICHELLE BATES ties, bonuses and rights-of-way from [email protected] activity on Lake Bistineau for weevil production. It w ould create the Lake Chickenstock was a success Bistineau Management Account in the despite strong storms that blew conservation fund. through Friday night. With something for everyone of all SeeREYNOLDS, Page 3 ages, the family-oriented event dis- played arts in Minden from many Lawmakers hear locals and art demonstrations took about gaps in LSU place throughout the day. Louisiana LegisLature Bonnie Ferguson, owner of Pastry hospital deals Moon Soap, helped with Kids Day at The Farm throughout the week as OPINION PG.4 well as Saturday and says she’s Lawmakers enjoyed ChickenStock for several years. A professional artist, Ferguson WEATHER says this year’s event is better than ever. seek overhaul TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK “It is so much bigger this year than last year,” she said. “Last year, we only had a few vendors, so I really feel like the community has come out in full stride for this. The Farm itself is just of handling of perfectly put together. Everything has a little touch. Everywhere you look Youth Challenge Program Cadet Alex Argueta helps Ade- line Hedrick paint a fish at one of the art stations at Chick- SeeARTS, Page 3 enStock Saturday. Bruce Franklin/Press-Herald sexual assaults BATON ROUGE — The young woman had been raped near LSU's 56 46 Baton Rouge campus, but that wasn't HIGH LOW the only indignity she suffered, her Overcast with rain mother later recalled. showers at times. In reporting the attack, the 18-year- Chance of rain 60%. old encountered apathetic authorities, harsh questioning and a hospital that not only billed her thousands of dollars for a medical exam, but also tacked on CONNECT WITH US a late-night fee because she sought @mindenph help after 10 p.m., the mother said. In Louisiana, her story is not unique. "If our homes are broken into, we are not charged for evidence collec- tion," said the woman's mother, who testified on condition of anonymity before a Senate committee last fall. "After being poked and prodded and Vol. 46 No. 212 interrogated, this was the last straw: over $4,200 dollars in billings." Now, the Legislature appears ready to address those concerns and more, Chris Broussard gives painting lessons to Levi Rhodes, left and Logan Ray as their mothers, Kacey Rhodes and Anna Ray look on during ChickenStock Saturday. Bruce Franklin/Press-Herald SeeLAWMAKERS, Page 2 2 Monday, April 27, 2015 – Minden Press-Herald SECONDwww.press-herald.com FRONT arts in MinDen Soto: ‘Homelessness a multi-faceted issue’ Ruston artist finds meaning after filming documentary MICHELLE BATES enlightening one. So that stuck with me.” [email protected] “There are many rea- That impression has fol- sons behind it, but there’s a lowed him throughout his lot that we can do,” Soto life, he says. His talent A Ruston artist found said. “My first day on Skid pulled him into the world meaning in his art after Row was sensory overload. of the music and film finding his way to God, but The noises, the smells, the industry, allowing him to it was after filming a docu- movement – it was at first use his skills in music mentary on homelessness glance, to me, a true videos as well. that brought the issue human wasteland. It was a “I did my last tour with home for him. place where people were Aerosmith in 1997, and I Trent Dion Soto spent discarded. It was some- did two pieces that trav- 30 days as a homeless man thing you see on TV you eled with them,” he said. on Skid Row in Los Ange- would figure would be in a “It was probabl y one of my les, choosing this path to third world country.” favorites, getting to meet document a prevalent The hardest thing, he Steven (Tyler), getting his issue and show them as says, was watching every- autograph and pictures. I real people with real emo- one around him in need, did this for 13 years with tions. “Among the Discard- hurting. There are things MTV, then freelanced.” ed,” to be premiere d at The most people take for grant- Soto and ChickenStock Farm Saturday, May 16, is a ed, like a fresh cup of cof- chairman Melissa Downer documentary which fol- fee or the security of a went to school together, lows Soto as he delves into locked door. and she says she recon- the world of homelessness. “You felt for them, and I nected with him on Face- “I’ve had a taste of felt helpless knowi ng that I book, where she discov- homelessness,” he said. “In couldn’t help everyone,” he ered his love of the arts. 1995, Hurricane Opal said. “Since then, I’ve “When he decided to ripped up Panama City formed relationships that I begin his journey to Skid Beach and this Louisiana still have with people on Row, I was not really sur- boy lost everything he Skid Row and it’s really prised as he has always owned. Everything – truck, about building a relation- been o ne to step out of the my apartment, almost my ship one person at a time, box and go a different life.” and not taking on the route,” she said. “But I was At that time in his life, whole community at amazed at his strength and he says he was making bad once.” confidence in his mission. choices and literally had to Soto is the son of a mili- I am beyond proud of him choose between those tary man. Born in England, and his work and we are choices or a place to live. It he and his family came absolutely thrilled to have was in that moment he back to the United States, him premiere his docu- turned his life over to God, to Ruston, where he was mentary with us at The and in part, his own expe- raised and graduated high Farm.” riences led him to share school. His life exp eriences “I left a chunk of my the issues that are the epi- include an array of things heart and a sliver of my demic of homelessness. many people in the Deep soul on Skid Row, and I will “I know the basics of South might not ever see, forever be a part of that homelessness,” he said. and he delved into the community one way or “Throughout my life, I cre- world of art, music and tel- another,” he said. Ruston native Trent Dion Soto paints ‘angel wings’ on the side of Zenobia’s House at ated art with no meaning. I evision. He has produced Today, when he visits The Farm Saturday. Soto has done many of these paintings, done by hand, and calls am a Christian, and I know art for the covers of music with the homeless, he gives them ‘Angels Among Us.’ Children who watched the demonstration were given an God gave me these talents albums and done the stage back in the most basic way, opportunity to have their picture taken in front of the ‘angel wings.’ Michelle and I’d been using my tal- backdrop for famous helping to meet their phys- Bates/Press-Herald ents for 20 plus years for all bands such as Aerosmith. ical needs first. When he the many issues that face “I think it is a great trav- life at only 30 years old. the little go ds. Some of the “I’ve always been artist,” travels, he emerges himself the homeless, but the one esty that men and women “Because he couldn’t greatest art pieces I’ve he says. “The first play I into homeless communi- that stuck out to him the serve our country and afford a house, he couldn’t done is a ministry to me. ever painted was the back- ties bringing with him most is the h omeless mili- they’re truly discarded,” he afford to live,” he said. “And (Homelessness) is an epi- ground on the stage in the hygiene kits, clothing and tary veterans. One he said. “They suffer the high- he lost everything. He demic in one of the richest third grade.