I’m back. Lisa and I vacationed last week in Branson, MO. Got us a cabin on Lake Taneycomo, hung out on the dock and fished every day. Didn’t even go to a show. Just relaxed.

Fishin’ wasn’t that good, however we were able to bring home our possession limit of 16 rainbow trout.

We did go out to eat a few times, though, and our favorites were the White River Fish House (best cornbread I’ve ever eaten), Rocky’s (a great Italian restaurant in a 100-year-old building, and the Candlestick Inn (beautiful view). As always, it’s good to be back to our favorite place in the world.

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We made it back in time to go to the St. Tammany Parish Katrina 5th Anniversary Community Service Sunday morning. It took place at 262 Debbie Drive, Slidell.

Kudos to St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis, Parish Council Chairman Jerry Binder, Parish Councilman Richie Artigue, and other organizers for putting it together. It was quite moving.

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The official start of St. Tammany’s Bicentennial will take place this evening from 6-8 p.m. in the Parish Council Chambers. The highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of St. Tammany Parish Government’s Cultural Icons Installations. The five inductees into the St. Tammany Walk of Fame are Walker Percy, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Louis Prima, Tony Canzoneri, and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.

Access St. Tammany Channel 10 will be filming oral histories, so come share your story of St. Tammany Parish.

Food and drinks will be provided.

The chambers are located at 21490 Koop Dr., Mandeville.

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The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

— Dorothy Nevill

Terry Maddox is the publisher of St. Tammany News.