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The St. Leo IV Holy Name Society recently hosted its annual Father-Son Breakfast at the Reznicek Hall of St. Leo IV Roman Catholic Church in Roberts Cove.

In the past 10 years, Raj Singh and his staff at the LSU AgCenter Plant Diagnostic Center have examined thousands of plant samples mailed to them by home gardeners and commercial growers in search of answers to their horticultural problems.
From fungal infections to insect pests to nutrient deficiencies, the Plant Diagnostic Center has seen it all.
“Plants get sick like we get sick, and they cannot tell us their problems,” said Singh, director of the center. “So as a plant doctor, I find the cause and treatment of their problems.”
The Plant Diagnostic Center launched in 2010 to provide both the commercial horticulture industry and the general public a one-stop shop for identifying plant health problems and solutions. Its staff recently combed through data collected from 2010 to 2020 to see what kind of impact the center has had in its first 10 years.
In that time, the center has processed more than 6,000 physical plant samples and more than 2,500 digital samples, which usually come in the form of photos, from across Louisiana. Singh also has made about 500 visits to home gardens and commercial horticulture operations to diagnose more complicated cases.
The majority of physical samples – 71% – are sent in by commercial growers. Photos of plant health issues tend to come from homeowners or parish AgCenter agents sending them on constituents’ behalf. Singh replies not just with the diagnosis, but also best management practices that can be implemented to resolve the problem and prevent it from recurring.
Fungal and fungal-like microorganisms account for 41% of diagnoses in the past 10 years, followed by bacterial infections (13%). Smaller percentages are attributed to viral plant pathogens, insect pests and mites. Another 14% of plant problems seen in the past decade stem from abiotic factors, including soil pH, soil compaction and poor drainage, nutrient deficiencies and chemical phytotoxicity.
Uncovering exactly which of these problems is making a plant “sick” takes a little detective work. Sometimes, visual inspection of a sample or photo is enough to make the call. But many conditions share similar symptoms. At the Plant Diagnostic Center, a variety of tools are used to make diagnoses, including examining samples under a microscope, cultural isolation and molecular diagnostic techniques.
Seeing so many “patients” has given the Plant Diagnostic Center a front-row seat to emerging plant health problems – placing it on the frontlines when it comes to responding to high-impact diseases like citrus canker or boxwood blight.
“The center serves as a sentinel for the discovery of new pathogens that our growers may be facing,” said Stuart Gauthier, AgCenter agent in St. Martin Parish.
Since 2010, Singh has published 18 new disease reports in peer-reviewed scientific journals – new findings on hosts and pathogens or their spread to new geographic locations.
“This information is important to advisers, growers, diagnosticians, researchers, regulatory officials, other practitioners and the public,” Singh said.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry depends on the center for diagnostic support to help determine whether plant pathogens warrant quarantines or other urgent measures.
“Through the years the PDC has been the basis for making sound quarantine decisions for citrus diseases, palm tree disease and Phytophthora ramorum,” said Ansel Rankins, LDAF assistant commissioner.
He added that Singh has helped the department train its inspectors on how to take samples in the field, identify pests and relay information to the public.
“Our business could not thrive without the help and support of Dr. Singh and the PDC,” Rankins said.
The center also is a resource for AgCenter extension agents and specialists, helping them to be able to resolve queries from their constituents.
“When I make a preliminary diagnosis but tell the client I want to confirm it with the Plant Diagnostic Center, it gives them confidence in the final prognosis and keeps me from making a misdiagnosis,” said Joe Willis, AgCenter agent in Orleans Parish. “And when I am completely stumped by what I see, the PDC is there to bring clarity and provide answers.”
“Confidence in knowing the exact pathogen that is causing disease is paramount in developing a plan to move forward with clients,” said Will Afton, AgCenter agent in St. Tammany Parish. “The quicker I can confirm a plant pathogen, the quicker I can start a management plan with the client.”
Dan Devenport, AgCenter agent in Lafayette Parish, noted the center’s benefits to licensed landscape horticulturists.
“Recommended control options provided by the PDC assists licensed landscapers with commercial applicator’s licenses and gives them the best options they need to service their clientele,” he said.
Other accomplishments at the Plant Diagnostic Center in the past 10 years include:
• Publishing more than 50 fact sheets distributed to consumer and commercial clientele.
• Conducting 285 extension seminars delivered to 1,460 ornamental and turfgrass professionals; 1,670 Master Gardeners; and 9,264 commercial and consumer stakeholders.
• Training 282 AgCenter agents on plant pathology and plant diagnostic matters to give them more confidence to address plant health questions brought to them by clientele.
• Participating in 108 free plant health clinics where the general public can get their plant questions answered.
• Hosting 22 international scholars.
More information is available online in a progress report at https://bit.ly/3E43WI1.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 44-year-old woman who has been married for three years. We all have a past. Unfortunately, I made mistakes in mine that I foolishly mentioned to my husband when he asked. He is someone who doesn’t let go of things easily.
I had a threesome in my early 20s, which I didn’t think was a big deal because I was young and experimenting with my sexuality. He’s now insisting on my having one with him. He thinks I cheated on him because when we met nine years ago, I was still friends with the people involved. I love him, but I feel like he wants to have his cake and eat it too. What should I do? – CORNERED IN LOUISIANA

DEAR CORNERED: If you’re against the idea, you should refuse. And if he persists with his wacky idea, the only “threesome” you should agree to would involve the two of you and a licensed marriage and family therapist.

DEAR ABBY: I’m an inmate at the women’s prison. My fiance and I have been together for four years and have four little ones under the age of 4. They are with him.
I am getting mad at him for not writing often or sending photos. I realize he’s busy taking care of the babies, but am I being selfish to think he should make time for me? – INMATE MOM IN NEVADA

DEAR MOM: I am glad you asked. I am also glad you recognize the fact that your fiance has his hands full, working to support his family while taking care of the little ones. Because you have more time on your hands than he does, spend some of it writing to HIM and the CHILDREN. Tell them how much you love and miss them. Describe your daily activities and your hopes for them. If you do, it may make your bond with them stronger and bring them closer to you until you are released.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I were married 10 years and in our 40s when he passed away three years ago. His wishes were that his ashes be split – half to me, and half to be buried with his mom in another state. I want to go there by myself and take care of it without notifying his family, so I won’t have to go through another “funeral.”
I haven’t spoken to his family members in that state since the funeral. I did speak with his sister – once – during the past year (we live in the same city), when I dropped off some of her family’s things that my husband had. Can I just go and take care of it? Must I inform the family? I would much prefer just going to the cemetery and then coming right back home. – YOUNG WIDOW IN NEW YORK

DEAR YOUNG WIDOW: Contact the owners of the cemetery and ask this question. If your husband’s family owns the plot in which their mother is buried, you may need their permission to open her grave and add your husband’s ashes. If you do not wish to have “another funeral,” it is, of course, your prerogative, but I doubt you can slip this past them.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Jerald Ray Simon, 88, passed away on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at St. Patrick Hospital with his family.
Jerald was born on July 17, 1933, to Mella and Cesar Simon in Crowley.
Jerald served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War. He served for two years as a medic, and upon returning home, met the love of his life Ena Marie Landry. They were married shortly after she turned 18 on Feb. 10, 1956. They lived a full and beautiful life.
The first ten years were spent learning and traveling. Jerald came to know Christ at the young age of thirteen, and was encouraged later by his wife which led him to a life of ministry. He attended Bible college in Minnesota, finishing his studies at Ozark Bible College, Joplin, Missouri. Speaking French afforded him the opportunity to travel to Haiti on several mission trips where he developed a deep love for the Haitian people. In 1966 during a men and women’s bible retreat in Oklahoma, it was there that God led them to their only child, Jerald Simon II, which further enriched their life.
Mr. Simon’s careers included welding and law enforcement, and was a barber for NASA. He was also an accomplished musician who enjoyed playing Gospel music for the elderly at nursing homes, and at home with his wife and friends. Jerald retired as a minister and successful entrepreneur of Simon’s Discount Clothing Store.
He will be remembered as a humble, selfless, kind, funny and generous family man who never met a stranger. He gladly gave his time, talent and treasure to anyone in need. Above all, he adored his wife and son.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ena Maria; his son, Jerald “Jerry” Simon; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Simon; grandchildren, Ethan Simon and step-grandson Jack Kane.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sibling, Verbena Simon.
A Christian Memorial Service will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday Dec. 4 at Christ Community located 2500 W. Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Community Church.