The clack clack of a teletype machine echoed from the dispatch room where Steve May began his career in law enforcement 36 years ago at the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office. After 32 years of service in Caldwell, May spent his last day as sheriff among friends, family and co-workers in an office with bare blue walls stripped of the Andy Griffith memorabilia, photographs and collections that were its hallmark.

The 91-year-old sits in one with a rotary bakelite phone in reach on the other. For the past several months, Splond has spent many of her days on the patio, using the phone to take care of her business. She can't spend time in her home of 30 years until damage caused by the March flooding is repaired. "I'm here most every day when I feel up to walking from the neighbor's house over to this house, but it's not every day that I feel like I can do it," Splond said.