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, s e p t e m b e r 18, 2024
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Residents voice vexation with property assessments WEST FELICIANA PARISH COUNCIL
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The West Feliciana Parish Council sided with the parish assessor in a series of property value disputes Sept. 9 and could not agree on adopting a new zoning map. The council also said it will not appoint any new members to the parish’s Port Commission until the Legislature decides whether to abolish the defunct agency. Every four years, parish assessors are required to re-evaluate taxable properties and set new values, but the council met as a Board of Review on Taxes to hear
challenges from four individuals who questioned Assessor Richard Kendrick’s new 2024 values for their property. Such sessions are somewhat rare in rural parishes. Kendrick said the nine challenges were the first that were brought to a review board during his 16 years in the Assessor’s Office. Lea Williams, a former parish police juror, challenged the new fair market values Kendrick assigned to five of her rental proper-
ties, while her son challenged two. The council went through each of the cases individually, with Kendrick explaining his reasons for the assigned values. In each case, the council accepted his determination of the value. Williams said Kendrick was being “extremely unfair” in not allowing her to argue on behalf of her son in his two complaints, and said Kendrick’s valuations make it difficult to offer affordable rental houses to people who do not own
their homes. Kendrick said the owners may appeal their cases to the Louisiana Tax Commission, which will send out a certified appraiser to examine the properties. A property’s assigned fair market value determines its assessment; residential property is assessed at 10% of fair market value. A property owner’s tax bill is determined by multiplying the appropriate millage rate by the assessed value. Because the total assessed value of property increased during this reassessment year, the council was required by law, in one mo-
tion, to lower the tax millages to collect the same amount of money as last year. State law, however, allowed the council to then cancel that motion by setting the millages at the same rate as last year, thereby collecting more money because of the assessment increase. As a result to the two-step process, the parish government is expected to get $58,563 more for its general fund; $144,157 more for roads, bridges, buildings and parks; $18,010 for health, mosquito abatement and the parish coroner;
ä See COUNCIL, page 2G
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
The winning designs for the Clinton Bicentennial poster and T-shit depict the water tower and courthouse. From left are Clinton Is Home Vice Chair Heather Halbrook, artist Lilah Gray, Chair Marsha Kemp and publicist Arlene Culpepper.
Winners named for design contest for Clinton bicentennial celebration BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
Paintings by Clinton businessman Billy DeMoss and Lilah Gray, a Silliman Institute student, were the winners chosen in the design contest for the official artwork on the poster and T-shirt for the upcoming Clinton Bicentennial Celebration on Oct. 5. “Artists and designers were encouraged to use their imagination to design a beautiful representation of the town of Clinton and its rich history,” said Arlene Culpepper, publicist for the nonprofit organization Clinton Is Home, which is planning the 200th birthday celebration. Culpepper said “the beautiful rendition of the historic East Feliciana Parish courthouse” by DeMoss will be on the official poster and a limited number will be sold. Gray’s “depiction of the iconic Clinton water tower” will be on
The winning painting for the poster design, shown here and featuring the historic East Feliciana Parish courthouse, was done by Bill DeMoss.
the official T-shirts and a limited number of those will also be sold, Culpepper added. DeMoss, the owner of Frogskin Graphics for 21 years, said when interviewed Sept. 9 by phone he began painting again recently for the first time in about 20 years. The colorful acrylic on canvas painting of the courthouse was done in about May or June, he said, and it was because of his sister encouraging him that he submitted his entry. Gray, a 17-year-old high school junior, is the daughter of Danette and Clint Gray, She appeared with family for an interview at The Green Door on Sept. 7. The young artist is also a cheerleader, Honor Society member and on the Campus Ministries Leadership Team at Silliman. She said her other hobbies include reading fantasy and writing. Her favorite artistic efforts are
ä See CONTEST, page 2G
Voter Registration Week underway Grand jury indicts Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Voter Registration Week runs through Friday, Sept 20. The week has activities aimed at registering Louisiana citizens to vote ahead of the Nov. 5 election. The deadline to register to vote in person or by mail is Oct. 7, and the deadline to register to vote through the GeauxVote Online Registration System is Oct. 15. To register and vote in Louisiana, individuals must: n be a U.S. citizen n be at least 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles) to
register and 18 years old before the next election to vote n not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order, not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years, and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S. 18:1461.2 n not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of
ä See AROUND, page 2G
7 men in 3 slayings
2 officers cleared in prisoner’s death BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
A West Feliciana Parish grand jury last week indicted seven people in three slayings and cleared two correctional officers of charges stemming from an escape attempt, District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla said.
Three of the seven indicted are inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary accused in the deaths of two other inmates. In the indictments returned Sept. 9 before 20th Judicial District Judge Kathryn E. Jones, the jurors indicted
ä See GRAND JURY, page 2G