Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters

05/18/2026

Mudbug Madness Treasure Hunt!!

NO ONE HAS GOTTEN ALL OF THE RIDDLES SOLVED! THERE IS STILL TIME TO WIN THE PRIZE!!!!

Here are all of our Twin Blends History Hints so far!!!

2 MORE HINTS REMAIN!!

We will be posting those on Tuesday and Wednesday!!

Go to apotheworx.com to sign up if you haven't already!

05/18/2026

For those of you who missed our Loving Living Local NBC 6 / FOX 33 with Susan Kirton segment this morning here it is!
Mudbug Madness KTAL NBC 6 Townsquare Media Apotheworx

Mudbug Madness is a 43-year-old community staple that celebrates the start of summer with a treasure hunt, featuring historical clues from Shreveport’s Mike and Mark Mangham of Twin Blends.

05/18/2026

Had an absolute blast this morning as usual with this sweet, crazy lady! Always a pleasure to be on Loving Living Local NBC 6 / FOX 33 with Susan Kirton! The staff at KTAL NBC 6 makes us feel so welcome every time we walk in the door!

This morning we talked about this weekend’s Mudbug Madness Festival as well as memories of Crystal Lake! 

After the show wrapped up, Mudbug Madness Festival Chairman, Elissa Little stopped in and asked if one of us would be a contestant for the “Men’s Celebrity Crawfish Eating Contest” happening this Friday at 11:30. Even though we told her that we aren’t celebrities, I (Mark) volunteered Mike for the task! This contest will be happening this Saturday at 11:30am so come on out and support him! He’ll need all the help he can get!!

Our buddy Susan Kirton will be also competing!! You know we will be there with our camera zoomed in on her!! 🤣🤣

05/18/2026

Anyone want to hear about everyone’s favorite Lake? Join us this morning in the 8am hour! We will join our buddy Susan Kirton on Loving Living Local NBC 6 / FOX 33!

05/18/2026

Mudbug Madness Treasure Hunt!!

Twin Blends Hint for CLUE #8!!

In case you haven’t figured out clue number 8 here is a hint that can only be found on our Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters page! Happy Hunting!

Go to apotheworx.com for details!
****We have had several folks message and tell us they’re hot on the trail of this treasure

05/18/2026

There’s nothing like having a brother that has your back no matter what. Mark and I have been through some tough times over the last couple of years, but one thing will remains constant . The brother that stands beside you and never leaves. Mark has been my brother and teammate for 63 years.

Growing up, there was always somebody to play basketball and baseball with. We always kept each other accountable and actually never ever felt peer pressure at all. While other kids were out getting into trouble, Mark and I kept each other accountable and on the straight and narrow. We still do. Our parents, instilled honesty, integrity and the love for people into both of us.

This post is nothing other than to give a “shout out” to all brothers out there that are with each other through thick and thin.

05/18/2026

Pak a Sak: A Look Back!

79 years ago, yes 79 years ago in 1947, the first Pak a Sak stores came to Shreveport! The first two stores opened at 3653 Lakeshore Dr. and 3903 Southern Avenue. They operated from 7 AM until 11 PM.

The stores featured open front access with a line of groceries, fruits, vegetables, drinks, ice, ice cream and cold drinks.
Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters Teammate Annie Todd's, grandfather, Chester Todd, opened this Pak a Sak (number 1) in 1947! She even sent us a few photos and newspaper clippings she had! In one photo you can see her grandfather (Chester Todd Sr. and his beautiful wife Doris Woodward Todd) sitting inside the old Glass Hat Cafe! Another photo shows him inside his store in 1957! The original building is still there although it looks like it is unused.

Over the next several years, many more Pak a Saks opened across the Shreveport Bossier area. Many of y’all remember shopping at these places! Eventually they became 7-11s.

**We’ve added a list of all if the Pak a Sak locations in the pictures.

Stay tuned for more Pak a Sak posts coming soon!

Be sure to share our new website with your friends and families! Here is that link!
twinblendshistory.co

05/17/2026

Unearthing Relics of the Past!!!

Several years ago a buddy of ours, Dave Bland, gave us several photos of what was he described as "Commerce Street Finds". We couldn't remember all of the details only what was written on the photos. At the bottom of each Polaroid photo was written "Commerce Street Finds, Everything in this photo from the riverfront area. Over 250 items. Orie A. Sparks".

You know us, we just had to solve this puzzle! After searching online we found a few newspaper articles from 1984 and 1985 talking about Orie and his relics! How cool is that!! In the photos we see so many relics!

A few that we spot are as follows!
A cannonball, a Shreveport Steam soda bottle, coins, buttons, tax tokens, axe head, ink bottle, horseshoes, ploughhead, old bottles, square nails, brass stirrup, old padlocks, a spittoon, glass telephone insulators, wings off of a model T radiator cap and old marbles!
You just have to wonder where these relics are today! If anyone knows please reach out to us!

Since we knew the relics came from Commerce Street in downtown Shreveport we thought we would add a few photos to this post to show the area we are talking about! Some photos courtesy Northwest Louisiana Archives at LSUS and A.I. enhanced to bring them to life!

05/17/2026

Mudbug Madness Treasure Hunt!!

Twin Blends Hint for CLUE #7!!

In case you haven’t figured out clue number 7 here is a hint that can only be found on our Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters page! Happy Hunting!

Go to apotheworx.com for details!
****We have had several folks message and tell us they’re hot on the trail of this treasure

05/17/2026

Come Sail Away!

Styx Live in Concert at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium