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Feliciana Explorer • Tuesday, December 3, 2013 • Vol. 3, No. 49 • Published Weekly • Circulation 17,000 • felicianaexplorer.com • © 2013

EXPLOREREXPLORERFeliciana

Proud to be the Felicianas' only locally owned, managed, and staffed newspaper.

Political novice aims for improved Feliciana economic development

Newly-elected Rep. Vance McAllister, R-Swartz

See MCALLISTER on page 2

Congressman McAllister Takes OfficeBy James Ronald skains

Back on July 4, 2013, Vance McAllister was an ordinary 39-year-old Louisiana business-man, unhappy with the stalemat-ed quagmire of partisan politics in Congress. Fast-forward five months, and Vance McAllister has added the title of Congressman to his name, as the newest member of the US Congress.

“I’m very humbled by the trust which the voters of the 5th District have put in me,” Congressman McAllister told the Feliciana EX-PLORER in a phone interview on Monday, November 25th. “So far, I’ve only cast one vote before the adjournment for the Thanksgiving holidays.”

“I’m ready to get to work. I want to get organized and up to date on the legislation before Con-gress now. Fellow Congressmen that the next debt ceiling legisla-tion probably won’t happen un-til June is telling me. I thought it

lister related. “The purpose in my coming to Washington is to make a difference and help solve some of the problems our country is pres-ently facing.”

When asked about his living arrangements in Washington and his travel schedule, Congressman McAllister had this to say: “For the time being, I’m just going to live in my office. I’ll be coming back home each weekend. My family will stay in Swartz so the kids can continue in their schools. Eventually I will probably find an apartment in Washington, but the family will stay at home and I will commute.”

There is little that is ordinary about 39 year old Vance McAllis-ter, except for his love of his fam-ily and his Christian faith. McAl-lister joined the US Army right out of high school. He became a

was something that would occur in February. I don’t see any reason to put off the inevitable when we know that we are going to have to address another debt ceiling hike.”

“I was very pleased to get a lot of national media coverage be-cause I had a chance to tell people my thoughts on the situation in Congress,’’ Congressman McAl-

Colonel Jim Hendrickson USAF (RETIRED) Adopts Jackson as His Home Town

Jim Hendrickson, president of the Jackson Assembly standing beside a scalemodel of the planned Feliciana Vets Memorial

By James Ronald skains

Jim Hendrickson is President of the Jackson Assembly which is in-volved in the preservation of Jack-son’s historical heritage and every-thing “touristy” in the Feliciana’s.

“I’ve literally lived and traveled all over the world, but Jackson, Loui-siana is as unique as any place I’ve been,’’ Hendrickson told the Felici-ana EXPLORER. “I retired from ac-tive duty on August 1, 1991 and have lived in Jackson ever since.”

Hendrickson did a little more than just retire to Jackson in 1991. After retiring to Jackson and buying an an-tebellum home, Hendrickson became the corporation secretary, business manager, and wine maker for Felici-

ana Cellars winery for two years. He also operated Jackson Coffee Compa-ny for three years. Next Hendrickson began restoring antebellum homes.

“While in college, my second ca-reer choice (after that of flying air-planes) was architecture,’’ Hendrick-son acknowledged. “Growing up in south central Ohio, close to the USA Air Force Museum in Dayton really focused my desire to be a pilot. How-ever, in my travels around the world, I always took as much time as possi-ble to admire the local architecture.”

Hendrickson is still in the hammer and nail phase of restoring four ante-bellum homes. He is advisor/consul-tant on several other 1800 era homes

See HENDRSICKSON on page 6

2 Tuesday, December 3, 2013

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EXPLOREREXPLORERFeliciana

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Phone (225) 654-0122Fax (225) 208-1165

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Publisher & EditorDaniel Duggan

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Contributing WriterJames Ronald Skains

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Still Tryin’ to Potty TrainColton Duggan

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MCALLISTER continued from page 1

medic and served a tour of duty in Korea. After returning state side, McAllister enrolled in University of LA-Monroe. However, after a couple years of pursuing a col-lege degree and being financially drained most of the time, McAllis-ter terminated his pursuit of a col-lege degree and began a career as a pipe liner.

In the 15 years after leaving college without a degree, McAllis-ter’s business ventures in the pipe-line business, oil and gas explo-ration, tool rental and franchises, allowed McAllister to self-funded his congressional election cam-paign to the tune of $800,000 plus.

“I’ve lived in Swartz since I got out of the Army in 1995,” Con-gressman McAllister noted. “We are active members of the North Monroe Baptist Church pastored by Brother Bill Dye.”

“From a business perspective, the timing of my running for Con-gress was absolutely perfect. In most all my businesses, I have a 50% partner who operates the business. I didn’t have any new projects going, nor had I recently started a new business, so I was free from a business perspective to run for Congress.”

To step away from lucrative business opportunities in order to undertake what seems to be an im-possible task of making a “differ-ence” in a partisan political arena in Washington, D.C., seems to be a major commitment in time, faith, and financial reality for McAllis-ter. It is well worth all of us watch-

ing closely as the saga of the high-ly touted Congressman McAllister applies his affable personality with a heavy dose of practicality to the quagmire in D.C.

“All my Congressional col-leagues that I have met have been very cordial, but I would say some-what wary of me. I don’t think they quite know what to do with me,” Congressman McAllister ac-knowledged. “I met with Speaker Boehner for about 10 minutes be-fore my being sworn into office. He seemed to be okay but he sure is a heavy smoker. He gave me a list of options for Committee as-signments.”

“I am pushing for an assign-ment with the House Appropria-tions Committee as I think that would give me the best position to ensure getting as much federal money as possible back to the 5th Congressional District. That is my first priority, to help the economy back in the 5th District.”

“I want so see Congress make progress in quickly getting the Farm Bill passed,” Congressman McAllister emphasized. “We have to address the problems with the Affordable Care Act, the Federal Budget in general and the debt ceiling. I’m ready to go to work immediately, not have Congress go on vacation just as I get to Washington.”

According to national media, some Republicans and Democrats are concerned that McAllister’s practical business approach to the problems in Congress may reduce heavy partisan rhetoric politics, thus undermining the status quo. There is also apprehension among

Democrats that more “Vance McAllister’s” are scattered around the country poised for the 2014 congressional election to pick off moderate democrat seats which supported Obamacare.

Most voters in the 5th Congres-sional District wanted common sense, practical approaches with compassion to solve the problems of the day, and not insider deals to fill vacant congressional seats.

“I also want to make sure that the people in the Florida parishes are adequately represented in Con-gress by me,” Congressman McAl-lister, who represents all or parts of each of the Florida Parishes, explained. “I’m trying to find the money in the budget for my office to open a Congressional District office in the Florida parishes. I’ve already talked with some people about doing so.”

“I’m keeping most of Congress-man Alexander’s staff intact. I told his staff that if I were elected, that I would keep them on if they did not get out and actively campaign against me. I thought that was only fair because when they took their jobs it was supposed to be for two years, not to be cut short by some-one resigning from office.

Writer’s note: Political experts and pundits have expounded on several theories of how McAllister could have been elected as “Mr. Outsider.” I think McAllister’s af-fable personality, his Christian faith, his propensity for hard work, his business acumen, his non-alle-giance to any politicians were ma-jor factors in his election on Nov. 16th.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 3

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On Saturday, December 14th at 3:00 PM, the main street of Histor-ic Jackson will bear witness to the Eighth Annual running of the Eb-enezer Scrooge Memorial Reindeer Race. Mayors of the communities of Norwood, Wilson, Clinton, Slaugh-ter, Jackson, and St. Francisville have been invited to represent their respec-tive cities, as well as teams from the Jackson Post Office, East Feliciana Sheriff , District Attorney and East Feliciana Clerk of Courts have been challenged to participate in this epic race for trophies and bragging rights in the Felicianas. State Representa-tive Kenny Havard will wear the white hat of the O-Fish-al Starter for the race.

There is no admission charge, so come and cheer for your favorite team! There will be refreshments, and rumor has it that some “snow-balls” will fly during the affair. The race day is sponsored by the Jackson Tourism Enhancement Committee.

Earlier on this same day, Decem-

ber 14th, come and visit “The Jack-son Second Saturday Market Day”. It takes place between 8:00 AM. to 2:00 PM in front of the Jackson Civic Center. Jackson Vintage Village/Flea Market hosts Market Day featuring many local merchants and vendors selling food, crafts, new items, ga-rage sale items, produce and more.

Also while in Jackson art will be on display and model trains will be running. Art work can be seen at the Charter Street Studios on the corner of College and Charter Streets. They will be open between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM for you to talk to the artist and see their work. Selected paint-ings by these local artist will be for sale.

For all those young at heart visit and enjoy the Baton Rouge Model Railroaders’ indoor and outdoor train layouts. They will be open between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM and are lo-cated at the Republic of West Florida Museum complex, 3300 block of College Street.

8th Annual Ebenezer Scrooge Memorial Reindeer Race set for December 14

Darinesha Dunn, Mya Matthews and the published author working hard at the Story Cube during Jackson Elementary’s monthly Literacy Night. Literacy Night was held for the Jackson scholars and their parents to participate in different activities about story elements, new books, vocabulary, and writing paragraphs. These stations were held to build the scholars’ knowledge. Submitted by Anijah Dunn, JES 4th grade scholar and Cub reporter.


HENDRICKSON continued from page 1

For the holid

ays

in the Feliciana’s. In addition, Hen-drickson became very active in local organizations.

“Sometimes I don’t know how I do all the things I do here in Jack-son, but thanks to my Air Force ca-reer, I’ve learned how to organize and prioritize,” Hendrickson pointed. “Currently, I’m the President of the Jackson Assembly which is our local preservation organization.”

“At one time or another, I’ve been an officer or director of the Jackson Historic District Commission, the Jackson Cemetery Association, Jack-son Tourism Enhancement Commit-tee, and webmaster for the Jackson website. I’ve also served stints on the Board of Directors of the Republic of West Florida Historical Association, the Friends of Old Centenary, the Chamber of Commerce and the Old Hickory Railroad Association. Need-less to say, I love what I do.”

Looking at Colonel Hendrickson (USAF-retired) military career, his road to Jackson was long, tenuous, and dangerous. It all began on June 11, 1965 when he graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a commission as an AFROTC Distin-guished Graduate. At that time, Hen-drickson became a Second Lieuten-ant in the Air Force.

“I was turned down for flight school because my vision was not up to the standards set for pilots,’’ Hen-drickson recalled. “I started my Air Force career as a Supply Maintenance Support Officer at Bergstrom in Tex-

as in 1965. I did not enjoy being a supply officer on the flight line.”

However, Hendrickson, who was very adept at volunteering for inter-esting duty assignments, changed his career path when he was sent to Nav-igator and Electronic Warfare Officer Training at Mather AFB in Califor-nia in 1967. From Mather AFB, he was sent to Takhili RTAFB, Thailand where he flew 60 combat missions in the EB66B, C, and E electronic re-connaissance/jamming aircraft.

Hendrickson’s next step in the Vietnam War was to fly 128 combat missions in the back seat of the F-4D and E Phantom fighter. After serving as the Wing Electronic Warfare Of-ficer at Danang Air Base in the Re-public of Vietnam for 2 years, Hen-drickson was assigned to Hempstead AFB in Florida as an instructor. He took his final tour of duty in South-east Asia in the fall of 1972 as part of the Linebacker II Operation fly-ing 63 combat missions from Udorn RTAFB in Thailand.

“As you might guess, I’m a to-tal history buff,’’ Hendrickson, who is also an artist, explained. “I spent 2 years transcribing old notary re-cords from George W. Caltell made in Jackson. We have built a computer abstract base for a lot of the proper-ty transactions here in Jackson. I’m also working on a map of the town of Jackson for every 10 years starting in 1815.”

One of the “Historic Property Transaction History” abstracts trac-es the property transfers on Lot 4, Square 37 in downtown Jackson from August 22, 1825. There were nearly 30 recorded transactions on this particular property through May

12, 2003. Hendrickson’s data base has numerous similar transaction his-tories on property in Jackson.

“I found it very interesting how the town of Jackson came into ex-istence between 1815 and 1820,’’ Hendrickson noted. “At that time, the Feliciana’s were just one parish. Two guys began buying property out in the middle of nowhere around the forks of Thompson Creek for some unknown reason.”

“One of the partners ran for the State Legislature from the Felici-ana’s. Once elected, he introduced a bill into the legislature that the par-ish seat should be moved from St. Francisville to the geographic center of what was, at that time, Feliciana Parish. Ironically, the geographic center of the parish, as determined by surveyors, was the exact location of the property that the two partners had bought a few years before the bill was introduced into the legislature to relo-cate the parish seat.”

“I don’t know if those two pro-moters just made a timely investment in land in the Feliciana Hills or there was a lot of political manipulation,”

Hendrickson explained with a laugh. “But the town of Jackson prospered and withstood two small battles dur-ing the Civil War.”

“Although money for historical preservation in Jackson is in short supply, all the organizations involved pull together to highlight the culture, heritage and history of Jackson,” Hendrickson pointed out. “There is so much work to do that it keeps all the different groups very busy trying to push forward.”

Writer’s note: During our visit with the retired Colonel, we saw sev-eral houses in which Hendrickson had been involved with their res-toration. Two of the houses visited were still in the “hammer, nails and boards” stage. We also had lunch at the historic Bear’s Corner Res-taurant and then toured the Milbank which has seen a variety of uses in Jackson since 1836 including as an office for the Clinton Port Hudson Railroad. Milbank is now a first class historical Bed, Breakfast, and special events venue.


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Feliciana Explorer Dec 3

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