DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
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W e d n e s d ay, s e p t e m b e r 25, 2024
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Shelf life is latest Livingston library battle Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
Traveling Vietnam Wall stops in Walker The traveling Vietnam Wall is in Walker this week. 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. 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. 26: Dedication and Wreath Ceremony, 10 a.m. n Sept. 27: Quilt of Valor Ceremony, 10 a.m. n Sept. 28: Living History Timeline, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Sept. 29: Ride of Honor and nondenominational church service, 9:30 a.m. (ride) 10 a.m. (service)
Area for controversial books divides board
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
The battle over books in Livingston Parish libraries has dwindled down to one sore spot: A shelf. For more than two years, the parish has been embroiled in debate over what some call inappropriate books for children. No books have been removed from libraries, but there have been frozen library cards, social media call-outs and book removal attempts. And the Livingston Parish Library Board of Control has seen some of its members pushed out and replaced. The latest development is a debate over the location of the new “Parenting Shelf.” The shelf, created by the board of control, holds books that are a combination of juvenile nonfiction and fiction that cover topics such as sexual education, drug abuse, grief, mental health, racism, puberty and more. The library staff, not the board, decides what goes on the shelf. A meeting Tuesday night became
“We received a lot of good feedback from what I was looking at. Everybody loves the shelf,” he said. “The main thing that the parents called me about is that the books are at eye level, which is what we did not want.” Davis said he was concerned about the possibility of a child roaming the area and grabbing a book that covers a sensitive topic. Fellow member Dewanna Christian agreed that the shelf needs extra attention or precaution. “What is the point of putting it on the shelf, if no one’s policing the shelf,” she asked. But moving the shelf isn’t as straightforward as one may think. Parish Attorney Brad Cascio advised the board in July that rePHOTO BY DAVID NORMAND locating books can face the same Pictured are some of the books in the Parenting Shelf section inside the scrutiny as removing books. “I would just warn you to be Livingston Parish Library’s Denham Springs-Walker branch. The Livingston careful when relocating a book. Parish Library Board of Control voted to create a Parenting Shelf during Like I said, it’s going to be looked its July 18 meeting. The self houses juvenile materials and covers topics at the motivation for relocating it, that can be considered sensitive, challenging or difficult for children. where you’re relocating it, and it’s going to be looked at just as tightly and just as closely as if you took tense when the discussion turned it outside the children’s area to it off the shelves completely,” he to the parenting shelf. Board mem- a neutral location near the front ä See LIBRARY, page 4G ber Larry Davis wanted to move desk.
ä See AROUND, page 3G
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
Springfield rolls past Crescent City Last week was the third of the regular season for high school football, but, after a couple of unusual twists, Springfield hosted Crescent City for a game that turned out to be the first for either school. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. Both teams had a bye scheduled among their first two games, and each also lost a game due to cancellation. For Springfield, that was a scheduled Week 2 visit to St. John, which was lost in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. For the Bulldogs, who went 4-6 last season, it was a chance to make sure everyone was healthy. They looked ready from the start as they rolled to a 45-12 win. Ethan Lipscomb returned the opening kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown. Although the score was nullified by a penalty, it was a harbinger of points to come. After Parker Butler connected on a 24-yard field goal, Anthony Williams scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns. Lipscomb eventually found the end zone on a 29-yard reception from Luke Husser, and Springfield led 22-6 at halftime. The Bulldogs put the game away with 16 third-quarter points. The defense put up a safety to get things going before Williams found the end zone twice on runs of 27 and 1 yards. In the fourth quarter, Butler returned a fumble 16 yards for a TD and Springfield was able
ä See SALZER, page 3G
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
Naomi Williams, left, and Vincent Norsworthy, second from right, put hybrid bluegill fish, that were donated by BESE board member Ronnie Morris, into a 100 gallon fish tank in the aquaponics classroom at Westside JuniorHigh in Walker on Sept. 18. Watching are Logan Barbin, Adriana Vocaturo and Zoey Hooper.
Middle schoolers raising fish and growing crops? Louisiana grant tests new science program BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
Staff writer
A group of Westside Junior High School sixth graders in white lab coats spend part of their day in a lab raising fish and growing crops. It’s only the beginning for these young scientists. The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Sept. 19 a $405,000 grant to advance the Walker school’s lab for aquaponics — the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. The initiative is called “Greauxing STEM-Stewards,” and it will introduce the state’s first Controlled Environment Agriculture learning environment, which will be a greenhouse on the middle school’s campus.
Mason Giardelli, left, and Cy Gregory, center, measure basil plants in the aquaponics
ä See SCIENCE, page 2G classroom.