Dear readers, for the past three months, we have relished in the return of Ask Albert Anything — and the questions have been wide-ranging. There is only one problem — where is Albert?

Aside from December and all its Christmas festivities, August is without a doubt the busiest month for our family. Between birthdays, showers, an anniversary and now COVID-19, I think this may be our biggest August to date.

These days, there is a great deal of anxiety. Even those who are the calm and steady type are experiencing uncertainty.

Magnolia Pediatrics specializes in care for special needs children

They say, “You can never go back.” I don’t know who “they” are, but last week I actually went back, and in a big way. Some may dream of fame and fortune, others of worldly riches and material things. I just wanted to ride in the Wienermobile one more time.

Old fire station transformed into music studio

Remembering my dad, the Rounder

Back when the COVID-19 virus and quarantine first started, I heard a lady on television say something that tickled my funny bone “really good."

We opened our first restaurant in 1987. When we started the work that September, we had no opening date in mind. I don't even think we set a goal or a target date. We had no idea about the opening date because we really had no idea how to run a restaurant. We were winging it on all fronts.

Dear Albert:

For those of you who actually keep up with my kids, I apologize for being MIA last month. With our special community edition and my family vacation, I just wasn’t able to make it come together in time. However, I’m back now for

The late great American chef and icon Paul Prudhomme created and developed thousands of recipes in his lifetime. His books are filled with his culinary genius and creativity. Though, above all the recipes listed in all the indexes in his books, the one recipe that will still be attributed to…

To have an event listed,email Cam Bonelli at reporter@leader-call.com

Inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest places. I can watch a movie and pick up on one three-minute scene that reveals to me exactly why that writer or director was driven to make the movie. It was obviously a scene that had been rolling around in the director/screenwriter’s head and …

My New Orleans restaurant to-do list is almost complete. Actually, it will probably never be complete, as there will always be new restaurants to visit and old standbys to revisit. But the original list I compiled several years ago is nearing the end.

Founded in 1981, the Animal Rescue League is one of few no-kill shelters in Mississippi.

LL-C graphic designer recruits local artists for community project

Friday night Miss Jones County Caidyn Crowder did it again with another preliminary win before the Miss Mississippi finale competition Saturday.

Park Place Garden Club brought home a number of awards from the recent convention of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., in Hernando.

In 2020, America was running out of chicken tenders, masks, hamburger meat, hand sanitizer and plastic gloves. But we were also running low on recreational vehicles. Everyone still wanted to travel, but no one wanted to get on an airplane, if there were even any airplanes still flying.

Jones County Fire Service volunteers from Powers, M&M and Sharon, along with Clarain Wayne County, were set up along Highway 63 at Clara VFD at the funeral procession for Rufus Landrum on Tuesday.

Author’s note: This column is being written on Memorial Day. Due to the publishing schedules of the various newspapers in which this column appears, it will be read anywhere from two days to one week after Memorial Day. An editor might say, “It’s not timely.” I would respond, “It’s always ‘t…

Miss Jones County prepping for run at Miss Mississippi pageant crown

Guys, I have realized the fatal mistake I have made. I have given my friends the ultimate pass to embarrass me any way they find fitting. To rub salt in the wound, I have to write about it. I tried to back out of this, but Jim told me that I had already signed the contract and it was too lat…

Dear Albert:

Rasberry’s ‘thank-you’ to Laurel June 5

The Council of Garden Clubs of Laurel and Jones County recently had its installation of new officers for 2021-23. The council meets the first Wednesday of each month in the Mason Room of the Laurel-Jones County Library. The objective of the organization is to coordinate the interests of the …

I had a 10 a.m. doctor’s appointment today. I’ve gone to this clinic for years. I walked in and gave my name and birth date. Yes, things looked different, but I’m used to things not looking the way they used to.  

Last week, I was in New Orleans enjoying a bowl of gumbo by Lake Pontchartrain at my go-to place for gumbo — Station 6. It also has some mighty fine smoked fish dip. Actually, it probably has the best two examples of those starters in the city.

Northwood Garden Club members recently planted flowers, distributed bird seed and spruced up the sign at Mason Elementary School. They planted flowers in pots in order to attract bees and to bring awareness to the students about honeybees as pollinators. The children were educated on the imp…

Betty Busbeap of Laurel submitted these photos of a century plant that has been in her yard between 30 and 40 years. The plant began blooming in March, left photo, and has reached full maturity. (Submitted photos)

I drove down Buffalo Hill Road last week with the intent of looking for them. I rounded the curve and looked off to the right and up on the bank. There they were, strewn about in a banner of blue. My husband asked, “Are you going to stop and pick them?” My impulsive self, felt compelled to s…

Rippling sounds of the Leaf River could be heard as members of the Ellisville Garden Club arrived for the April Garden Club meeting at the Flowers’ Camp. The quaint wooden cabin was filled with the delightful smell of burning charcoal. A table full of picnic favorites accompanied the burgers…

The Leading Ladies of Laurel’s inaugural meeting will kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 3 at Mason Park’s stage area. The featured speaker will be Sarah Thomas, the first woman NFL referee. 

The Ellisville Garden Club selected the Hill Street office of Pat L McKenzie, Inc., as the Bright Spot of the Month in town for the month of May. This company provides a welcoming and well-kept landscape to those passing by on their way into the city. The yard is designed to have blooming pl…

You might ask, where in the world is Moorhead, Mississippi? I know that when my grandson Tanner earned a scholarship to play baseball for the Trojans at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead two years ago, I had to look it up.

This year marks my 40th year in the restaurant business. I got into this business after flunking out of college in 1981, though I have always worked. I mowed lawns until I got my first real full-time job at 15 as a radio station disc jockey. When it came time to declare a major for my freshm…