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
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W e d n e s d ay, O c t O b e r 30, 2024
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Burn ban underway in East Feliciana after 15 fires in one day BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
East Feliciana Parish Police Jury President Louis Kent urged parish residents Oct. 22 to heed a ban on open outdoor burning after parish firefighters battled 15 separate blazes on La. 67 north of Clinton earlier in the day. “Please don’t burn,” Kent said during the jury’s meeting. Kent put a “burn ban” into effect
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Veterans Day program planned at park
on Oct. 16 because of the current drought-like conditions. Homeland Security Director Darryl Buhler said state forestry officials were investigating the cause for the La. 67 fires, which burned on the west side of the highway from La. 432 south to near the Clinton corporate limits. Kent noted that he was delayed in getting to the jury meeting because the highway was shut down as firefighters from several
departments worked to bring the fires under control. Buhler said the parish has had 30 wildfires since the burn ban went into effect and as long as the dry, windy conditions persist, the number of fires in 2024 may surpass the 79 recorded in all of last year. State forestry firefighters and local fire departments — including some from Mississippi — had to be called in to battle “numerous wildfires” reported.
Firefighters also battled five separate fires on La. 19 between La. 963 and Wilson on Oct 19., Buhler said. On Friday, state forestry officials determined that a truck with mechanical problems and spitting sparks from its exhaust pipe started a series of wildland fires along La. 67 in Clinton. The string of wildland fires on Oct. 22 threatened homes, barns and farm equipment but nothing
was damaged and no one was hurt, officials with the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry said. By the time all the fires were extinguished, land along seven miles of La. 67 was burned, encompassing around 35 to 40 acres, forestry officials said. Crews with the state forestry department plowed nearly 24 acres to contain the fires, officials said.
ä See BURN, page 2G
DINE & DASH
An East Feliciana Veterans Day program will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, at Feliciana Veterans Park in Jackson. Several veterans from the Louisiana Veterans Home will be honored.
Music on the Mount 2024 Music on the Mount 2024 will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 2 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 11485 Ferdinand St., St. Francisville. A ticket provides music, activities and fellowship. There will be food, beer, wine, margaritas and the Rev. Brad Doyle’s Whiskey Priest for purchase. The end of the evening will feature fireworks. Ages 7 years and under are free. Visit https:// tinyurl.com/3z5esjab for tickets and more information.
Winter basketball Registration for winter basketball is open. The deadline is Nov. 29, and the cost is $75. Find information and register at www.wfprec.com.
West Feliciana playground survey available A short survey asking ideas for a better Butterworth Playground is available at forms. office.com/r/UC0UDa27Qw. Submit responses by Nov. 30. Share this with other families, especially those who can give input on what ADA accessibility needs are a priority in the community.
Learn about breastfeeding The ABCs of Breastfeeding will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 2 at Lane Regional Medical Center Board Conference Room, 6300 Main St., Zachary. Email or call Jamie Schmolke to reserve a spot: jschmolke@lanermc.org or (225) 658-6612.
Christmas parade sign-up Visit www.facebook.com/ citcstfrancisville to sign up for the Christmas in the Country parade. Christmas in the Country in St. Francisville is set for Dec. 6-8.
Market themes The St. Francisville Farmers Market is held Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Upcoming theme dates include: Nov. 21 is Thanks & Giving Back event. Customers who bring in nonperishable food items, which will be donated to
ä See AOUND, page 3G
PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Videoing runners and cheering them on to finish strong is West Feliciana dance coach Julieanne Estep and her son, Colt.
Runners, chili cooks make West Feliciana Color Dash and Chili Cook-off success BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Parker Park. It was the third year for the fun, familyfriendly running events — a 5K, a one-mile Dancers, runners, family, friends and and a Blue Dog Run/Walk this year. West pets were joined this year on Oct. 19 by Feliciana dance coach Julieanne Estep chili makers and tasters at the 2024 West recognized her assistants, Shannon MiFeliciana Color Dash & Chili Cook-off. lazzo and Jeana Felder, and the efforts of The event was held by and in support everyone who helped make the 2024 event of the West Feliciana Fleur De Lis Dance a success. Teams in downtown St. Francisville at Streets were temporarily blocked off for
Contributing writer
runners with the races beginning in front of the park. Under blue skies with the morning’s cooler, autumn temperatures, those who participated ran on Commerce and Ferdinand streets. New this year and spread around on the mostly-shaded park grounds, were the 12 teams in the chili cook-off. Some with tents,
ä See DASH, page 2G
Costumed covens practice craft for cause BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
Costumed covens shunned their brooms and instead descended on a small West Feliciana village by bike, car, and cart Thursday for the fourth annual Witches Ride of St. Francisville. The annual event supports local causes and serves as another positive draw to the St. Francisville tourism scene. Before the first broom ever touched the ground, more than 500 participants had registered for the ride with the equivalent of another 200 registrations linked to community and business sponsors. Working on the strength of teams, the covens used themes,
ä See COVENS, page 3G
The LSU-themed Golden Ghouls from Tiger Land celebrate Thursday, at the after-party following the Witches Ride of St. Francisville. The coven, from left, are Mandy Maxwell, Katie Maxwell, Brittany McCoy and Jamie Robertson. PHOTO BY FRANCES SPENCER