DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
ADVOCATE THE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOA
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, s e p t e m b e r 4, 2024
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Vietnam Traveling Wall to make stop in Walker Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Fall Garden Day planned in Walker Southeastern Livingston Center and Livingston Master Gardeners are hosting a Fall Garden Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at 9262 Florida Blvd. Walker. The event will include nursery vendors, kids activities and plant sale.
Community news report The Vietnam Traveling Wall is coming to Walker later this month. The city of Walker and its Parks and Recreation Department are bringing the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall at Sidney Hutchinson Park Sept. 11-15. The memorial is an 80% replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall standing at 360 feet long and 8 feet tall. It bears the name of the 58,307 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation’s freedom during the Vietnam War. This solemn tribute serves as a reminder of
the immense cost of preserving the liberties we hold dear. Accompanying the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is the Cost of Freedom Tribute, a series of smaller panels that honor the service and sacrifices of those serving in Americans in World War I, World War II, the 9/11 attacks, the War in Afghanistan and Iraq. The event schedule includes: n Sept. 11: The wall will be escorted from East Baton Rouge Parish into Livingston Parish and Sidney Hutchinson Park. n Sept. 12: Dedication and Wreath Ceremony, 10 a.m. n Sept. 13: Quilt of Valor Ceremony, 10 a.m.
n Sept. 14: Living History Timeline, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Sept. 15: Ride of Honor and nondenominational church service, 9:30 a.m. (ride) 10 a.m. (service) A benefit concert with Jim and James Linden Hogg is 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Set. 14 for Walker High School student mentor programs. These events will provide an opportunity for the community to come together, reflect on the sacrifices of our heroes, and reaffirm our commitment to the enduring values of freedom, honor and patriotism. For volunteer or sponsorship opportunities, email parksandrecinfo@walker-la.gov.
Make a door hanger Combine your love of Southeastern Louisiana University and crafting at the Paint your Pride: Lion Up Door Hanger craft from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Southeastern’s Alumni Center, 500 W. University Ave., Hammond. To register, visit southeastern.nbsstore.net/lion-up-doorhanger.
Mammography coach visits Woman’s Hospital brings breast imaging to Livingston Parish with its mobile mammography coach. The coach makes mammograms more accessible than ever offering 3D mammogram technology across the state. Physician’s orders are required and appointments are encouraged. The coach stops at Mandy’s Primary Healthcare, 35701 La. 16, Denham Springs, Sept. 16 and at LPG Riverside Maurepas, 18740 La. 22, Maurepas on Sept. 27. To schedule an appointment in Denham Springs call (225) 791-2400 and in Maurepas, call (225) 698-3435 to schedule For more information including the full mammography coach schedule, visit Womans. org.
Pets looking for homes The Denham Springs Animal Shelter is looking for people to foster cats and dogs. The no-kill shelter, at 600 Bowman St., Denham Springs, also encourages residents to consider adopting a pet; the fee is $60. More than 200 cats and dogs need homes or foster parents. For information on fostering or adopting, call (225) 664-4472.
PROVIDED PHOTO
The 2025 Leadership Livingston class includes, front row from left, Don McPherson, Stephanie Harris, Grace Kennedy, Sandy Acardo, Brandon Cohea, Kayla Rogers, Hailey Russell, Jessica Perault, Amanda Cook and Lisa Frey; middle row, Lauren Crow, Laura Dunlap, Shane Rogers, Duane Black and Chris Anderson; and back row, Taylor Lewis, Sarah Barnett, Dianna Tassin, Jessica Legath, Marley Stilley, Colleen Bible, Steven Lea, Jim Gilbert and David Gray.
Leadership Livingston class includes 25
Concert for mentor program
Community news report
Walker is partnering with the Walker High School Student Mentor Program to host a dinner and benefit concert featuring Jim and James Linden Hogg. James Linden is a local musician, author and storyteller. The event will also include a presentation and testimonies of the Student Mentor Program. Doors open at 5 p.m. Sept. 15 and the concert start at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are limited and may be purchased at the Walker Parks and Recreation office, 13620 Aydell Lane
Leadership Livingston recently announced its 2025 class. The class was presented to over 240 attendees at the annual State of Livingston Parish Address. Before the luncheon event, the class was introduced to each other through a meet-and-greet event and program orientation. “We are thrilled to start the 13th cohort of the Leadership Livingston Program,” a news release said. “As with every class, we are excited to see the achievements of this group and the positive influence they will have on our communities as ambassadors and leaders for improvement.” Members of the class are taken through a 10-month program where they are introduced to various topics. The program is hands-on where class members travel to various locations throughout the parish.
Send news and events for Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4 p.m. Friday or call (225) 388-0731.
In addition, the program has a community project component where members are tasked with researching an issue or problem and helping to solve it. Past classes have been involved in projects from smaller projects to very large ones like the Albany Playground, French Settlement Playground, First Responders Monument and Challengers Ballfield. All projects help to bring awareness to the entity or area they serve. Twenty-five class members were announced and include: Sandy Acardo, Livingston Parish Clerk of Court’s Office; Chris Anderson, Livingston Parish government; Sarah Barnett, Pelican State Credit Union; Colleen Bible, OLOL Physicians Group; Duane Black, DS City Court; Brandon Cohea, FP Juvenile Detention Center; Amanda Cook, Brandy Robertson State Farm; Lauren Crow, DSLD Homes LLC; Laura Dunlap, Livingston Parish SADD;
Walker ready to repeat last season’s success As Walker gets ready to play its season-opening football game, it’s tempting to take a quick look back at what the Wildcats accomplished last season. While the current focus is on Week 1 opponent Ponchatoula, Walker is hoping to ride a wave of momentum it created last season when it had what was probably their most successful season ever. The Wildcats posted a 10-3 overall mark that included the program’s first trip to the state
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
quarterfinals. Included in that ledger was a 4-1 record in District 5-5A, good enough for a share of the district title after a three-way
tie at the top. Could Walker do it again? After talking with other coaches around the district, the general feeling is that Walker should be able to contend for district honors. The playoffs are difficult to predict, but being one of the top teams in the district would put Walker in line to at least host a first round game. A bonus for the Wildcats is the
ä See SALZER, page 2G
Lisa Frey, city of Walker; Jim Gilbert, Livingston Parish President’s Office; David Gray, Livingston Parish Library; Jason Harris; and Sheriff Jason Ard. Also, Stephanie Harris, REV Business; Grace Kennedy, Forte and Tablada, Inc.; Steven Lea, Martin-Brower Company; Jessica Legath, Entergy; Taylor Lewis, town of Springfield; Don McPherson, Bank of Zachary; Jessica Perault, state Department of Children and Family Services; Shane Rogers, Rogers Service Group; Kayla Rogers, RN, Ochsner Health; Hailey Russell, The Kinchen Group; Marley Stilley, North Oaks Health System; Dianna Tassin, Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC. Leadership Livingston, a program of the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce, is a community leadership program designed to engage participants in community dynamics and inspire action to make Livingston Parish better.
Walker quarterback Troy Sylve grabs the loose ball during a 2023 game against St. Amant High. FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON