Blue star is shining again

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The blue star at the towering building between East Street and La. 13 is back.
What was thought to be missing some 30 or 40 years ago from a rice dryer is now shining brightly on another rice dryer.
One of the oldest rice dryers, located on East Street, was recently demolished, but what was not raised, and stored away safely was a large star.
If you grew up in Eunice you will most likely remember seeing a huge bright blue star on top of a rice dryer during the Christmas season. The star is guessed to be some 50 years old and is an angle-iron 15-foot wide one.
The rice dryers are owned by the Hengens families (Wayne, Michael, Mark and Jennifer) of Crowley.
When one of the rice dryers was removed, Debbie Nagata Hensgens, a native of Eunice, requested that the star be placed upon the next door rice dryer. Hengens said she was reminded by a friend about the star.
“When the older rice dryer was torned down, Charles Seale, a friend, called me and reminded me of the star and asked if the star was saved,” she said.
Hengens fondly remembers the star as a young girl and always enjoyed seeing the bright blue image in the sky. She said, “The star was safely stored away. I’m so pleased and happy to know that the star is again shining for all to see. I believe this sight may bring some kind of happiness, hope or even joy to someone that needs a bright lift during this season.” When asked of her if she knew who constructed the star, she said, “No, I sure don’t know.”
On Dec. 9, the star was placed on the top of the 100-foot rice dryer building.
Kenneth Perriotti of H.B. Brown Machine company of Eunice maneuvered his heavy crane equipment truck for more than 30 minutes to place the star.
David Trahan of Crowley stood on top of the dryer to secure and place the star. With the help of several Sanders and G & H workers the star will shine high in the sky this Christmas season.
The manager of Sanders is Brett Bruchhaus and Sam Mixon is manager and one of the owners of G & H Outdoor.
The star is seen from the G&H parking lot on Tuesday night. the star went up on the 100-foot building on Dec. 9. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)