COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE • MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • SLIDELL
ST. TAMMANY
N O L A.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, O c t O b e r 23, 2024
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Judge declines to reinstate library board members
BY ALEX LUBBEN
and Anthony Parr sued the parish government and St. Tammany Parish Council member David Cougle after they were removed in May. The trio claimed that they were retaliated against, in violation of their First Amendment rights, for expressing their views on certain library books and for refusing to limit access to them in the parish’s public libraries. Many of the books in question had sexual themes or contained
Staff writer
A federal judge ruled Oct. 16 that three St. Tammany Parish library board members who sued to get their jobs back after the Parish Council removed them earlier this year were not entitled to be immediately reinstated to their positions. Former St. Tammany Library Board of Control members William McHugh, Rebecca Taylor,
LGBTQ+ themes and characters. Controversy has swirled around the parish’s public library system since June 2022, when some branches put up public displays for “Pride Month.” Since then, some northshore residents have argued that the libraries have made sexually explicit material available to children. Others have complained about some books with LGBTQ+ subject matter. U.S. District Judge Brandon S.
Long in New Orleans said that the plaintiffs had not “carried the burden of persuasion by showing that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their First Amendment retaliation and viewpoint discrimination claims.” His ruling, however, does not end the lawsuit. The hearing that took place Oct. 15-16 did not address all of the plaintiffs’ claims, but instead was held to determine whether it was appropriate for
Long to immediately reinstate the plaintiffs to their former posts on the library board. “This case is not over,” said Bruce Hamilton, the attorney representing the former library board members. The parish government had previously filed a motion seeking to limit some evidence from being introduced in the case, argu-
ä See LIBRARY, page 5A
ABITA SPRINGS
Council again says no to mayor firing town marshal
‘It’s really clear now that the wheels have fallen off,’ one councilman says BY SARA PAGONES Contributing writer
A second attempt by Abita Springs Mayor Dan Curtis to fire Town Marshal Richard Bonnet failed when a divided Town Council recently refused to approve the mayor’s request to terminate him. Curtis had sought to oust the nonelected marshal in January, arguing that Bonnet was not doing enough to rein in speeders. That 2-2 vote was taken during a vacancy on the Town Council due to the death of Lynne Congemi, and Curtis cast the tie breakCurtis ing vote that would have allowed Bonnet to be fired after a 60-day probation. That vote was nullified a few weeks later, after the appointment of Regan Contois to fill Congemi’s term. But tensions have continued to flare between the mayor and marshal, and Curtis hired the Bonnet law firm Milling Benson Woodward to conduct a review of a litany of administration complaints about Bonnet. The firm presented its findings at an Oct. 15 meeting that backed the mayor’s call for dismissal. Attorney Adam Davis, filling in for Town Attorney Edward Deano, also urged the council to support the mayor.
ä See MARSHAL, page 2A
PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
Bob Wayne checks out the Evan Joseph, a 1967 Stauter Built boat owned by John Romagnano.
Wooden It Be Nice? 33rd annual festival benefits Maritime Museum Louisiana
Daniel Plaisance floats his toy wooden boat at the 33rd Wooden Boat Festival held Oct. 19-20 in Madisonville.
Maritime Museum Louisiana’s mission is to educate the public about the long and storied impact of one of the state’s chief commercial and societal interests. The Wooden Boat Festival, held Oct. 19-20 in Madisonville, is the signature event of that effort. This year was the
ä More photos from the fest.
33rd time the festival has been held along the banks of the Tchefuncte River and it’s the chief fundraiser for the museum, at 133 Mabel Drive, in the riverside town.
PAGE 8A
Galatas among annual parish arts honorees BY KADEE KRIEGER Contributing writer
Slidell-area artist Phil Galatas is accustomed to recognition. As a three-time world champion waterfowl carver who has achieved international acclaim, he has amassed an array of awards and accolades. But it’s a hometown honor that he will receive this month that stands out among the rest. “This one is from home, from my place, where my kids and grandkids get to see that I mean something to my community,” Galatas said. “To get this one is emotional. If I never get another award again, it’s fine because of this one.”
Galatas is among a handful of artists Parish President Mike Cooper and the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs will honor during the 18th annual President’s Arts Awards on Oct. 24 in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. The event celebrates talented residents of the parish who have made outstanding contributions in promoting and supporting the arts, said Commission of Cultural Affairs Chair Laura Prisco. “St. Tammany Parish is home to so many remarkable artists, and the President’s Arts Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate their work and service to our community.” In addition to Galatas, recipients are
Gavin Jobe, culinary artist; John Case, literary artist; Fadra White and Zondra Jones, musical artists; Fidelity Bank, patron of the year; 30 by Ninety Theater, performing artist; Lisa Barnett, outstanding service; Lacombe Art Guild, President’s award; and Ronnie Pogue, posthumous Lifetime Achievement. In addition, Cooper and the Commission on Cultural Affairs started a new tradition of recognizing the next generation of local artists with the Emerging Artists Award. They are Elizabeth Burris, Ayvah Johnson, Eli Strain, Caroline Tebbs and Malachi White.
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PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
Artist Phil Galatas working at his home near ä See ARTIST, page 2A Slidell
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