Happy Valentine’s Day, Mack McCarter!

Very little gets Mack McCarter down. But dust did.

McCarter is chief of Shreveport-Bossier Commuity Renewal and on Wednesday attended a luncheon at Giuseppe’s given by Women of Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal.

The dust problems came when McCarter spent six hours without moving at a celebration in Africa. "It was a huge celebration in one village we are involved with. There were 15,000 people and six hours of dancing. I sat with the chiefs with no canopy," explained McCarter, who has has a dust allergy since childhood.

By nightfall, he was desperately ill with hot fever and joint aches.

"I felt good enough within 48 hours to come home. Then I contacted pneumonia," he said, in a chat after the luncheon.

He has since rested 12 weeks and has six more weeks to go.

But there was no way he was going to miss the luncheon for almost 180. (It is a glittery event that usually opens the social season for ladies who lunch.)

McCarter couldn’t give his usual speech about the state of Community Renewal. However, friend Virginia Shehee, who was seated at his table, served as spokeswoman.