Homeless in Baton Rouge A Short Profile
A cover story for the now defunct Baton Rouge weekly.
Jeff Smithpeters
I was a professor for 14 years, but now that time has ended, and I am hoping to find a position using my skills as jack-of-all-trades writer in the Ark-La-Tex area or remotely.
My Ph.D. is in American Literature and was conferred by Louisiana State University ('05). While the literature of the South and literature about the U.S. Civil War is my specialty, I've also worked as a journalist in the periods between degrees and while I was teaching. I started with the Arkadelphia Siftings-Herald in 1996, continuing through the spring of 1997. I published straight news stringer work in the Baton Rouge Advocate and did features for the Tiger Weekly as a Contributing Editor. While serving as professor at Delta State University, I published a current events column for the Clarksdale Blues Star.
I offer here a selection of stories from some of these eras.
Halloween Fears 2009
An opinion column written in the early days of the Obama administration
Whole Foods to open in Baton Rouge
In the aughts, one of the most momentous occasions for any city was its welcoming of a Whole Foods franchise. The excitement in Baton Rouge was palpable. I got a tour of its store in its last stages before its grand opening.
Tornado Hits Arkadelphia Hard
The above-the-fold front page story detailing the damages done by a tornado that hit Arkadelphia, Arkansas (and other towns along I-30) on March 1, 1997.
Teacher of Year Profile
A feature about that year's Teacher of the Year in Arkadelphia, AR.
Rockefeller, Candidate for Lt. Gov, Stops By
An article on the interview the editorial staff conducted with Arkansas Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Win Rockefeller. He went on to win the 96 election for the post.
