SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
DEMOCRAT THE ST. FRANCISVILLE
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, J u ly 24, 2024
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Companies vie for broadband grants Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Back to school time is here School orientations set East Feliciana Public Schools
n Aug. 7
East Feliciana STEAM Academy, grades 6-8, 2 p.m. n Aug. 9 East Feliciana Enrichment Academy, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each family will be prescheduled. Clinton Elementary School, grades Pre-K through 6, 9 a.m. Jackson Elementary School, grades Pre-K through 6, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. East Feliciana High School, grades 9-12, 10 a.m. to noon Slaughter Elementary School, grades Pre-K through 6, 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Come and go style. East Feliciana Middle School, grades 7-8, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visit https://www.efschools. net/documents/i’m-aparent/2024-2025-school-supply-lists/667164 to find supply lists. West Feliciana Public Schools n West Feliciana High All students will pay their fees and pick up schedules. Seniors are Aug. 5 at the school’s front office between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with time slots assigned by last names. Check the school website for time assignments. Freshmen are Aug. 6 in the school gym. Last name A-M is 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and N-Z is 10 a.m. to noon. Students and parents should plan to attend. Students will learn about the school and take a tour. Bring cash to have Kona Ice. Sophomores and juniors are Aug. 7 in the gym with times assigned by last name. Visit the school website for specific times. n West Feliciana Middle Sixth grade and new student orientation in at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 in the gym. Returning students can pick up schedules from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6 at the school office. n Bains Elementary The school will have an open house on Aug. 8. Last names starting with A-G are from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., H-P are 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and Q-Z are 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Backpack giveaway Happi Landiers and The Backpack Project will hold a Back to School Drive-thru from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Aug. 3 at West Feliciana Middle School, 9559 Baines Road, St. Francisville. Students must be in the vehicle to receive supplies, which are for residents of West Feliciana Parish. Identification will be required.
Give blood at Lane The Blood Center donation bus will be in front of Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, July 29. A news release said the area has a severe blood shortage and is facing a critical need of all blood types. For information, call (225) 765-8843. Donors should eat before donating, bring a picture ID, be 17 or older (16 with parental consent) and bring reading glasses if needed. The process takes about 45 minutes; the actual
ä See AROUND, page 2G
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
A state agency plans to announce grants to internet service companies in late October as part of a state and federal effort to improve internet service to large areas of Louisiana. As part of the Biden administration’s infrastructure program, Louisiana was awarded $1.355 billion to bring high-speed internet to Louisiana households and small businesses that are currently un-
served or underserved. East and West Feliciana parishes are among about a dozen Louisiana parishes identified as lagging in access to affordable broadband access. The program is administered by the state Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, which is part of the Division of Administration and headed by Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar. The agency also is known as ConnectLA. In a public meeting earlier this
month, Iyengar outlined the timeline for allocating the federal funds to companies that will install affordable high-speed internet infrastructure where it is currently lacking. After the companies submitting successful proposals are picked in October, the proposals will be submitted to the federal government for approval, which is expected sometime next spring. The companies chosen will have until 2028 to finish installing the high-speed links. The state agency also is adminis-
SHINING BRIGHT PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
A Peach Passion sunflower shows its colors at the Southern Cross Bucks Preserve during a youpick Saturday event.
Sunflowers are the stars at Southern Cross Bucks Preserve Community news report A variety of colorful sunflowers with bumblebees and butterflies under blues skies and sunshine was the scene for the final you-pick party held on July 13 at Southern Cross Bucks Preserve near Jackson in East Feliciana Parish. In addition to the traditional yellow sunflowers, visitors were able to see and cut the Rouge
Royal and Peach Passion sunflowers. The plentiful bees, or “happy pollinators” as owner Tiffany Terrell called them, dipped and looped from sunflower to sunflower not bothering the admiring harvesters. A patch of nearby wildflowers was especially popular with the numerous fluttering butterflies.
ä See SUNFLOWERS, page 3G
tering a program it calls GUMBO 1.0, which allocated another pot of federal funds for broadband projects, including some in the Felicianas. ConnectLA is calling the allocation of the $1.355 billion GUMBO 2.0. According to information presented on the agency’s website, East Feliciana Parish has 8,624 broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) at which broadband
ä See BROADBAND, page 2G
ELECTION 2024 QUALIFYING
Candidates line up for offices BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
One mayor won a new term without opposition when qualifying for the Nov. 5 election ended in the Felicianas, but another mayor drew an alderman as his reelection opponent. Clinton Mayor Mark Kemp won his second four-year term after no one else signed up to run for the office during qualifying Wednesday through Friday. Kemp was appointed mayor in 2019 to finish out the term of former Mayor Lori Ann Bell and won his first full term in the 2020 election. In St. Francisville, Mayor Robert “Bobee” Leake, who is wrapping up his first term in the office after serving as an alderman, will be opposed by Alderman Andrew “Andy” D’Aquilla, the son of former longtime Mayor Billy D’Aquilla and the brother of District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla. St. Francisville Alderman Gigi Thomas Robertson, who represents a majority Black district, won reelection without opposition, but six people are running for the four remaining seats. Incumbent Abby Temple Cochran is seeking a new term, along with Alden Daniel, Collin Howell, Jerad “Cody” Powell, Edgar “Tommy” Wheeler Jr. and John Wilson. The Board of Aldermen appointed Howell on July 9 to finish the term of Alderman Rodney “Al” Lemoine, who died June 22. That term runs through December. A three-way race to fill an East Feliciana School Board vacancy developed Friday when two candidates signed up to oppose Louis Smith, who was appointed Thursday as an interim board member. The School Board District 3, Division 1, vacancy occurred with the election of veteran board member Mitch Harrell as town marshal of Jackson. Harrell took office with other town officials July 1. Running with Smith for the
ä See ELECTION, page 3G
Work continues on Julius Freyhan building Completion expected in January
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
Work continues on a $4.3 million project to renovate the former Julius Freyhan school building adjacent to the West Feliciana School Board office for use as a community center and museum. School Superintendent Hollis Milton said last week the project, funded primarily with state appropriations, is proceeding on schedule for a possible ribbon-cutting and open house event in December or January. Funded by its namesake, West Feliciana’s first public school opened in 1905, burned in 1907 and was quickly rebuilt on the same site.
Work continues on a $4.3 million project to renovate the former Julius Freyhan school building adjacent to the West Feliciana School Board office for use as a community center and museum. PHOTO BY JAMES MINTON