Bill Ellzey: I got my COVID-19 vaccine, and I’m still wearing a mask. I hope you’ll join me. – Houma Courier

Bill Ellzey| Correspondent/Houma Courier-Thibodaux Daily Comet

WH aware of 'frustrations' over vaccine hesitancy

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday said the White House understood the "frustrations" of many governors who are trying to persuade the many holdouts in their states to finally get a vaccine shot. (July 23)

AP

Covid-19 still rages, apparently unabated, and the virus that causes it is changing as viruses do. The shots thathave provided protection may not cope with the current variant of the killer disease. If you have not yet been vaccinated, you are vulnerable, and if you are fully vaccinated, be prepared to get a booster shot as soon as they become available.

In the meantime, continue wearing those troublesome masks whenever you are among crowds, especially indoors.

While none of the shot or mask recommendations have been fully tested, follow them anyway. One startling statistic stands out. Of the hundreds nationwide who have died of COVID-19, 95% were unvaccinated.

State concerns: Louisiana governor 'recommends' return to masking as state leads nation in case growth

Officials respond: Terrebonne, Lafourche officials ask residents to take precautions as COVID-19 cases spike

Rising cases: Use our interactive graphics to track the rise in COVID cases in Terrebonne and Lafourche

I have had the shotsand intend to get a booster as soon as I can. I will mask for the foreseeable future.

Our suburban Houma rooster, Drew, is still the chicken of interest around the area of Duval and Central.

Butcorrespondence from Nicole reports a new chicken sighting, with a photo, ironically, in the drive-up of a Thibodaux fast-food joint.

I thought it was hilarious seeing a chicken going into the McDonald's drive up. The bird in her photo does not match the black-and-gold coloration of the Duval street rooster.

Nicole also has experience with coyotes: And as for coyotes hanging around an area, we have learned that they travel far for prey. Our cat was a victim of a coyote pack. They killed him and drug him over 2 miles from home.

Bill Ellzey: Sometimes, unfortunately, it takes tragedy to bring family together

We had a tracker device on him that works by cellphone signal and followed it to find only what was left of him along with the collar. Over the years he had lost it a few times but we quickly found it using the pet/human tracking function. If anyone is interested in keeping tabs on their pets this is definitely worth the money. It's called 'whistle go.'

We had a cat that showed up here about 4years or so ago, she continued. He used to come in nightly, and during the day at his choice, especially if the weather was bad. He hated getting wet.

One day he went missing, but we found out someone had taken him, so we got him back home and searched for a way to keep track of him. We found a tracking collar called 'whistle go'. It uses cellphone service for a small monthly fee. It sends alerts to your phone when he leaves the safe zone and when he gets back. Over the years he only lost it twice, which we recovered using the device and our phone. He was a very spoiled, laid back, friendly cat. He didn't like to be held inside against his will and would cry 'tilhe got hoarse, so I let him have his way and he had been staying outside most nights. Well, this past Thursday, his collar alerted me that he was almost 2 miles from home, so I knew in my gut that the coyoteshad him.

My husband and grandkids went and tracked the signal down and there it was. What was left of him with the collar attached. The collar did its job and well worth the money for anyone that wants peace of mind on their dog or cats' whereabouts. We had no idea that coyotes travel in packs so far. There was a pack of prints where the remains were found. A void in my heart will forever be.

Notice that Nicole's tracking device, while providing location, does not protect its animal wearer.

A half-day program covering topics like 'Infection Control / COVID-19 Care,' 'Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine,' 'Eye Diseases in the Elderly,' and 'Arthritis in the Elderly' is scheduled forAug. 5 in the Healthy Lifestyles Center atTerrebonne GeneralMedical Center.

The first session begins at 8:30 a.m., the others following, all in The Locker Room of Terrebonne General,855 Belanger St. Information at tgheaIthsystem.com or873-4141.

The Thibodaux schoolreopens Aug. 6with a new principalbut with the same dedication to the needs of area dyslexic students, reports Carol Broussard. Applications for first grade are still being accepted, and a new bus has been acquired. More details soon. Visit the website, maxcharter.org, or contact Principal Rodrigue 227-9500 or arodrigue@maxcharter.org.

Responding? Contact Bill Ellzey at 985 381-6256, at ellzey@viscom.net, billellzey312@gmail.com, or c/o The Courier, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361.

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Bill Ellzey: I got my COVID-19 vaccine, and I'm still wearing a mask. I hope you'll join me. - Houma Courier