SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 25, 2024
$1.00N
East Feliciana Police Jury OKs bridge repairs in Norwood $100,000 in federal funds to pay for most of the work
BY JAMES MINTON
President Louis Kent said funds allocated to the parish by the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act would cover the The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury voted bulk of the repair work but about $22,000 in Sept. 16 to use $100,000 in federal funds to re- local Road and Bridge Fund may be needed. Because the estimated cost is below the build a bridge on Spec Garig Road north of amount required for the jury to seek bids Norwood. The bridge, near the Mississippi state line, from interested contractors, Amrhein said he wanted to use the company that recently has been closed for months. Parish Manager David Amrhein and jury repaired a bridge on Midway Road, which the Contributing writer
state ordered the jury to close. The contractor will do the work on the pilings and substructure that the jury lacks the equipment to do, while jury crews will work on the decking, he said. Amrhein said he would like to begin chipping away at the backlog of bridge repairs as funding will allow. He also said he will confer with District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla about the next steps the jury should take to remove mobile homes that were declared uninhabitable months ago. One of the structures was damaged by a fire, Am-
Infrastructure, transparency issues discussed in St. Francisville candidates forum
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Clinton market and birthday
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
Clinton’s Community Market is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 followed by the Bicentennial Celebration from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Local vendors, shopping, eateries will be on hand in addition to a Cancer Walk in support of the American Cancer Society, Cruising to Clinton Car Show and blood drive.
Learn to build fences The Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative is holding a Beginner’s Fencing Workshop from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4, 4419 Idlewild Road, Clinton. Wedge Barthe, electric fence expert; Glen Gentry, longtime fence builder and educator; and Josh Phares, fencing contractor will teach how to choose, build and repair hard wire and electric fences during a handson all-day workshop. Lunch is included. Beginners, women, students, underserved, young people, homesteaders will greatly benefit from this very hands-on workshop. Cost is $20. Register at www. louisianaglci.org/events-1/ beginners-fencing-workshopoctober-4-2024-clinton-la.
Blessing of the animals Bring your animals to be blessed in honor of the Feast of St. Francis at 4 p.m. Oct. 5 at Parker Park Pavilion in St. Francisville. Animals must be leashed or caged. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Donations for the animal shelter will be accepted: Purina Adult Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, Canned Classic Ground, medium Milk Bones, Kong Goodie bones, Temptations cat treats, kitten collars (small to medium), slip rope dog leashes, paper towels, bleach, laundry pods and large garbage bags.
Surveys say In a recent survey conducted by TemporaryDumpster.com, 3,000 experienced travelers shared their insights on America’s most Instagrammable hidden gem towns. St. Francisville came in at No. 22 as an Instagrammable town. Abita Springs was No. 44. Towns in the Top 10 were in New York, Florida, Washington, Hawaii, Montana, Massachusetts and California. A survey by Gunther VW Coconut Creek asked 3,000 respondents to recommend, based on personal experiences, their favorite routes to witness early fall foliage. Tunica Hills came in at No. 65. North
ä See AROUND, page 2G
rhein said. The parish’s ordinance is better than some blighted property ordinances because instead of placing a lien on the property that would only be paid if the land is sold, the jury’s ordinance allows the cleanup costs to be added to the annual property tax bill, Amrhein said. The properties are at 4183 and 4305 Cooper Lane. The jury also voted to allow organizers of an Oct. 5 Clinton bicentennial observance to use the front gallery and first floor of the courthouse for the program.
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Competitors check to see where the arrows struck the 3D target, a black bear during an archery event near Clinton.
Archers test skills Inaugural East Feliciana 4-H Archery 3D Invitational welcomes 50 competitors
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Contributing writer
4-H members, parents and alumni came together Sept. 14 to compete for the inaugural East Feliciana Parish 4-H Archery 3D Invitational set in the gently rolling hills and piney forests just south of Clinton as the morning fog lifted. The event was sponsored by East Feliciana 4-H, Pennington Foundation, Devall Catahoulas and Beth Dawson, said Kayla Banta, East Feliciana 4-H agent with the LSU AgCenter. The event was at the Bob R. Jones-Idlewild Research Station. Collaboration between the center and the research station along with the local 4-H created “an incredible 3D course on the research station,” Banta said. She added that the “wildlife research station provides the perfect combination of a real outdoor experience and terrain that makes this event unique.” The competitors’ 3D targets on the course were realistic-looking, statue-like replicas of animals native to Louisiana like deer, bears, turkeys, boars and rabbits. Also among their quarry were several small dinosaurs. According to Jonathan Roberts, director for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in Animal Health, who was on the scene and has been involved in East Feliciana Parish activities for about 20 years, said Banta deserves praise for hosting the 3D event, saying she “pushed it through.” An active volunteer with the East Feliciana 4-H, he said he has long wished for this kind of event and that the research station is a perfect location for this and other activities. More than 50 people attended the event. Banta said plans are that “the invitational will be held annually in hopes to continue fundraising efforts within the parish’s shooting sports program while promoting involvement and hunters’ safety educa-
Three generations at the competition, from left, are mother Tiffany Bonnier, of Bossier City; grandmother Regina Henley, of Plaquemine; and archer Rori Bonner. tion.” “We want to express our deep gratitude to the Pennington Foundation for their generous grant … which made this invitational possible,” she said. She also thanked the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to planning and assisting with the event.
During a Sept. 17 political forum, St. Francisville’s mayor touted his administration’s progress in the last four years, while his challenger accused him of ignoring private property rights and lacking transparency in dealing with the public. Mayor Robert P. Leake Jr. faces Alderman Andy D’Aquilla in the Nov. 5 primary election for town officials. Three candidates for seats on the Board of Aldermen, Abby Cochran, Alden Dan- Leake iel and John Wilson also participated in the forum sponsored by the West Feliciana Chamber of Commerce. Two other candidates, Collin Howell and Edgar “Tommy” Wheeler did not attend. Howell joined the board in July to finish the term D’Aquilla begun by Al Lemoine, who died June 22. Leake said he is anxious to continue his service to the town after 10 years as an alderman and almost four years as mayor, saying “relationships” and “common sense” are two key parts of his governing philosophy. Early in his administration, Police Chief Scott Ford resigned, apparently under pressure, but Leake said he used his relationship with Sheriff Brian Spillman to make certain that St. Francisville was adequately protected until a new chief was hired. Leake said he noticed that St. Francisville had been left out of state appropriations before he took office, and he used his relationship with parish President Kenny Havard, a former state representative, to get a meeting with the House speaker to begin getting state grants. He said he has been able to get $14 million in grants during his term. “We’re getting things done that have been ignored,” he said. D’Aquilla began his introductory comments by saying he is not in favor of allowing additional apartment complexes in town “or a lot of growth.” The son of former Mayor Billy D’Aquilla, who served 48 years and six months as an alderman and mayor, D’Aquilla is town attorney for Slaughter and Jackson. He said the center of the town is congested because of changes in the traffic pattern at Commerce and Ferdinand streets, where several new businesses have opened during Leake’s term. If elected, D’Aquilla said he would undo the “terrible” parking arrangement near the intersection, which he said is not safe for pedestrians entering the new businesses. “Property rights and transparency are the main reasons I’m running,” D’Aquilla said. He also said he wants to see the Board of Aldermen meetings livestreamed on the town’s website and agendas and proposed ordinances posted on social media. D’Aquilla said Leake discourages public participation in the meetings, saying that often the most the board does in its sessions is approve the minutes of the previous meeting.
Aldermen candidates discuss issues
Genesis Youth Division: First place: Saylor Troxclair, East Feliciana Parish
Cochran, a school administrator, stressed her long record of service to the community, beginning when she came home from college to speak at a public hearing against building the John James Audubon Bridge with an approach through the town. She said her involvement in the school system, her church and civic organizations gives her a larger picture of what the town needs.
ä See ARCHERS, page 2G
ä See FORUM, page 2G
Winners included