Home Care In Bunkie, LA

Logan Blood remembers how alive Bunkie used to be.

“I used to work in Bunkie when I was a teenager, and Bunkie used to be alive and well, and then places started closing,” Blood said in a phone interview.

Main Street is coming to life once more. And Blood and his husband Josh wanted to give back to the community and fill one of the empty buildings.

The Bloods opened LoLo’s Naturals at 1221 NW Main Street No. 2. It's next to Anytime Fitness in a building that used to house Bunkie Nail.

The Bloods used to have a booth in Griffin’s Antique & Main Street Market until they moved to their new location seven months ago.

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“We had a good response from the people with crystals and such and so we decided to give it a go and put something different in Bunkie that’s affordable and that people don’t have access to unless they go to Lafayette or Alexandria,” he said.

The shop carries metaphysical items like spiritual supplies, sage, crystals, natural soaps, candles and natural stone jewelry. It also stocks CBD and THC products and nicotine vapes.

“We have CBD oils and topicals and gummies that people can use. Some people can use them for pain and anxiety or use them to help the sleep and relax,” Blood said. “The THC is also from the hemp plant and it produces euphoric feelings and some people use it for pain and relaxation. All of our products are third-party tested and approved by the Louisiana Department of Health.”

No prescription is needed to purchase CBD, THC or nicotine products, Blood said, but customers must be 21 and over to purchase. There is no age limit for entering the store.

Since they opened their own store, the response has been outstanding and they have been welcomed with open arms, Blood said.

“We still have people who come in and they are surprised that they can buy the stuff that they can here in Bunkie. And we have people from out of town who come just to come to our shop,” he said.

LoLo’s Naturals is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

BUNKIE, La. (KALB) - The Bunkie Panthers enter 2023 with a new head coach and a talented roster to make noise and get back into the postseason.

Jimmie Hillman takes over the Panthers’ team that went 4-6 a year ago, but finished the year winning three of their last four games and even took the eventual district champs, Jena Giants, down to the wire in a one-score game.

Coach Hillman said he knows for Bunkie to win its first district title since 2009, it starts with getting past Jena.

“We feel like we have the chance to compete for a district championship this year,” said Hillman. “We talk about it every day, and it is definitely something that is on the forefront of our minds as we go through non-district. It is about understanding the goals we are working towards.”

The Panthers enter the season with one of the most underrated athletes in the Cenla area, Kyle Johnson. The junior wide receiver and defensive back has garnered plenty of D1 attention picking up offers from ULM and Northwestern State after an explosive sophomore season. Johnson scored five touchdowns in 2022 as a receiver, four on special teams and also tallied six interceptions.

“It really excites me so much,” said Johnson. “My whole life, I’ve been wanting this opportunity. I’m happy for myself and making myself proud.”

Johnson still has two years remaining in high school, but his head coach is already handing out high praise for the Bunkie star.

“In my opinion. I think he is the best athlete in Cenla, and it shows every day when he comes into work,” said Hillman. “Offense, defense, special teams, he affects the game in all three phases.”

The Panthers have multiple weapons on the offensive side of the ball to line up next to Johnson. Tanner Lemoine was featured in CenlaPrep’s top five returning running backs for 2023. Lemoine had nearly 1,200 yards on the ground with eight touchdowns while standing at just five-foot-six.

Bunkie also returns a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Dillon Compton. The junior QB started playing football just one year ago, but quickly turned the heads of coaches at practice. He started the first few games for the Panthers last year before getting injured, but he said he is back and healthy for 2023.

“Our potential is through the roof,” said Compton. “Everybody tells us that, but it’s about what we do in practice and on the field that is what counts.”

Bunkie will open up the season on Thursday, August 31, at home against Catholic P.C.

KALB’s Cenla Summer Camp Series 2023 is presented by La. Farm Bureau.

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BUNKIE, La. (KALB) - Emergency medical technicians who were off duty came to the aid of a Bunkie High School football player who experienced a medical emergency after the Avoyelles Parish Jamboree on August 25. Bunkie starting quarterback Dillon Compton suffered from heat exhaustion after playing in the jamboree.

“We were actually headed towards the gate about to leave because everything was over,” said Dexter Compton, Dillon’s father. “One of the students said, ‘Something is wrong with Dillon.’”

After the jamboree last Friday, the Bunkie Panthers headed to the endzone to discuss the games they played. Compton was walking to the endzone after playing tough toward the end of the game.

“He had an 80-yard touchdown run that got called back, and he was going at a really high tempo that whole time,” said Bunkie head coach Jimmie Hillman.

As the team walked to the endzone, Compton started to move slower than his teammates, eventually needing medical help after a heat-related illness.

“Next thing you know, we’re taking his pads off of him, and he’s breathing, everything was fine,” said Hillman. “He’s just kind of having trouble speaking. [We] sat him down and then we laid him down and started treating him for what we figured was heat exhaustion and a little bit of dehydration, stuff like that.”

That’s when off-duty EMT workers Chris Fitzgerald, Beau Milligan and Darren Casio went instantly to aid the 16-year-old, along with the paramedics, by bringing fluids and an IV to keep him stable.

“My partner said that he asked, ‘what was going on?’,” said Fitzgerald. “He said it looked like a kid down and a bunch of people were standing around, so we walked up. He brought a bag, he’s a paramedic, and brings it everywhere he goes. So, he brought a bag, and we got there and realized he was down and needed some treatment.”

Compton was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent tests and saw a doctor, thanks to those EMT workers getting to Dillon right away.

“The fact that those guys were able to come over and start working on him immediately, I think made all the difference for that,” said Hillman. “Not only for his life but for his aspirations as a football player.”

“Just thankful to God and to those who responded the way they did,” said Dexter. “Just using their gift and their expertise to serve, and I’m just grateful.”

Almost a week after the emergency, Fitzgerald would do it all again for Dillon if he needed it.

“I’ve been doing this for 32 years,” Fitzgerald said. “It was just second nature. I would hope that if my kid was down, someone would do the same.”

Dillon’s family said he is doing great and will be back in action tomorrow, August 31, as Bunkie takes on Catholic of Pointe Coupee.

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BUNKIE, La. (KALB) - Bunkie’s Carlesia Fields has proved what she can do on the court for the season wearing the red and white.

“She knows this her senior year,” said Lady Panthers’ head coach Jessie Juneau. “She is out here to prove something.”

Each year that Fields has been a part of the Lady Panthers huddle, she has averaged double figures. She is currently averaging a little over 25 points per game, eight rebounds and eight steals.

“I am a good basketball player, but I am a team player too,” said Fields. “I want them to be good too, just as good as I am.”

Fields most recently had 29 points against Jena, in Bunkie’s first district matchup on Tues, Jan. 9, and last week, she put up 26 points against Avoyelles.

“She has tons of respect for her teammates,” said Juneau. “They really, really look up to her, that is what makes her special.”

Fields is a little over 200 points shy from becoming the first Bunkie Panther in school history to reach 3,000 career points.

“She is a good player,” said Lady Panthers’ guard Kaylen Rabalais. “We try to have the same amount of confidence, and we all play for each other on the court. We try to get on her level, so we can all play together.”

“She is a game maker,” said Lady Panthers’ forward De’Laysia Pierre. “She is our best point guard, she really controls the game and sets the tone.”

Last season, Fields drew attention from fans everywhere in Cenla, as she had a few 40-point games, but a knee injury sidelined her for the rest of the season.

“It was so sad,” said Fields. “I like playing basketball, but I had to sit on the bench and watch. My feelings were hurt. I missed five games last year, so I had to come back strong.”

The minor setback made for a mighty comeback as she is one of the most feared players.

“She has everything,” said Rabalais. “The moves, the shots, everything.”

“She is very hard to guard,” said Juneau. “We have had it several different ways because she dominates on both ends, offense and defense. Defense is probably more impressive to me. The way she plays defense, it is unbelievable the way she changes the game for other coaches and teams.”

For her humble but confident mindset to dominate anywhere on the court, Carlesia Fields is this week’s ACA Athlete of the Week!

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A Mass of Christian burial for Mrs. Dianne Bordelon will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, February 9, 2024 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral with The Reverend James Ferguson officiating. Burial will be at Alexandria Memorial Gardens, Woodworth, LA, under the direction Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.

The family requests visitation be held Friday, February 9, 2024 at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Dianne, 72, of Alexandria passed from this life on Friday, February 2, 2024 surrounded by her family.

Dianne was born in Bunkie, Louisiana on September 7, 1951. She worked for more than 20 years at Grand Lodge of Louisiana. Dianne loved her Cajun heritage, Elvis, coffee, boudin balls, cracklins, cake, ice cream and don’t forget her Diet Coke. She enjoyed music, festivals, markets, and spending time with friends and family. Her favorite time of year was fall, especially hosting her Annual Halloween Party.

Whether you knew her by Dianne, Momma, Ma, Pie, Beah, Mon Cher, Joan Jett, Lady Di, or Rudy’s favorite nickname, HMFIC (if you know you know), she never met a stranger and you never left her house hungry. She even fed every extra kid her children brought home through the years.

Dianne was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Bertha Johnson; sister, Ruby Jane Dufour; brother Gerard Johnson; and the love of her life, husband, Paul Rudy Bordelon.

Those left to cherish her memory include sons, Bryan Bordelon (Jody) and Chris Bordelon (Jennifer); daughter Kim Bordelon (Scott); sister, Faye Jeansonne (Buford); grandchildren, Trent Dauzat (Sarah), Travis Dauzat (Jackie), Madelyn Bolton (Eric), Mason Bolton (Jordyn), Brandi Bolton, Beth Bolton, Chance Farace (Alyssa), Brooke Walker (Chet); great-grandchildren, Gracie Jane, Ava, Auna, and Liam; and numerous sisters-in law, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Trent Dauzat, Travis Dauzat, Mason Bolton, Ricky Dufour, Todd Jeansonne, and Mark Dufour.

Dianne loved to say, “there’s nothing like a good pair of Levi’s,” so please dress casually. She would want everyone to be comfortable for this gathering.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Christopher McCanless and the staff of Baton Rouge General Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Dianne’s name to one of her favorite charities; St. Jude’s or The Masonic Home Educational Foundation Scholarships, 5746 Masonic Drive, Alexandria, LA.