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
|
W e d n e s d ay, n ov e m b e r 20, 2024
$1.00N
Havard teases data center soon WEST FELICIANA
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
An announcement that “a fairly significant data center” will be built in West Feliciana Parish is expected soon, Parish President Kenny Havard said at the Tuesday, Nov. 12, Parish Council meeting. The project will bring “fairly significant revenues for the parish,” Havard said. “It’s about a 95% done-deal.” Although rumors of the data cen-
ter have been around for about a year, Havard’s comments were the most detailed of his hints about the proposed project. On 3-2 votes concerning other matters, the council inched toward a possible adoption of zoning changes throughout the parish’s unincorporated areas, and also agreed to fill vacancies on a port
commission that has languished for years without coming up with a viable project. Havard made the comments about the proposed data center after responding to a question on whether the administration plans to move forward in building a rodeo arena at the parish’s sports park.
He said this year’s budget includes more than $1 million for the arena, but that may not be enough. He said he would rather wait “until the project comes through.” Havard has said he is restricted in saying much about the data center because of nondisclosure agreements, but he said publiclytraded companies are involved in the project, and it will be built “next to the paper mill” off La. 964 in the southern end of the parish. He said he understands the
companies have to take delivery of some equipment by the end of the year and that they are nearing a deal to purchase additional land for the project. “I think it’s going to be a gamechanger,” Havard said, adding that he hopes tax revenues from the facility will end the need for parish officials to “kiss the ring” of state or federal officials for local project grants.
ä See CENTER, page 6G
WITH HONOR
PROVIDED PHOTO
Veterans honored in Clinton at the Masonic Cemetery are, from the left, Knight Roddy III, John ‘Joe’ Rouchon, Donald Phares, Elaine Phares, Carroll ‘Coon’ Hausey and Doug Beauchamp.
Ceremonies, celebrations honor veterans across East Feliciana Parish
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
Contributing writer
Veterans across East Feliciana Parish were honored in ceremonies and celebrations before and on Nov. 11, the official holiday of Veterans Day. Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, recognizes and thanks members of the armed forces, past and present, for their service. Some events were postponed or canceled due to uncertain weather concerns and will be rescheduled. On Nov. 7, the Louisiana Veterans Home in Jackson had a joint celebration
honoring all veterans and marking the 249th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The festivities included the traditional cutting of the Marines’ birthday cake with a ceremonial sword and the sharing of the first piece of cake between the oldest Marine, veterans home resident Donald York, and the youngest Marine present. Handling the USMC birthday celebration portion of the program were the Marine Corps League Choctaw Detachment 778 along with the U.S. Marine Corps League 23rd Marine of Baton Rouge, according to a spokesperson. Guest speak-
er for the veterans program was U.S. Air Force veteran Julius Lee. The Knights of Columbus Chapter 8878 prepared a jambalaya lunch. On the morning of Nov. 9, a group of church family members placed flags at the graves of veterans at the Second Baptist Church Cemetery in Jackson. A Veterans Day Program at the Dawson Family Cemetery was slated for that Saturday afternoon but was postponed. On Nov. 10, the Veterans Day ceremony at the Masonic Cemetery in Clinton was held. Sisters Bett Williams Beauchamp and June M. Williams led the program
recognizing all veterans that was started 29 years ago in Clinton by their mother, Maude Williams, who was a member of the Alexander Sterling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, they said. The ceremony included presenting flags to veterans or their family members present and the placing of flags at grave sites. Former East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Talmadge Bunch began the tradition of providing flags for the DAR’s cemetery
ä See VETERANS, page 4G
Check out the trains at open house Four inmates charged with Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
The Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders holds its open houses from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday each month. Admission and parking are free at The Old Hickory Train Museum, 3406 College St., Jackson.
Library closures The Audubon Regional Library and the West Feliciana Parish Library will be closed Nov. 27-28.
Donate socks All branches of the Audubon
Regional Library will be holding the annual Sock It To Me sock drive through Dec. 6. Bins will be available to drop off sock. All sizes of new socks are needed.
Afton Villa fall season The gardens are open for the fall 2024 season at Afton Villa until Nov. 30.
Shop Small Y’all Shop Small Y’all will have a holiday sneak peek on Friday,
ä See AROUND, page 2G
murder in stabbing death BY GABBY JIMENEZ Staff writer
Four inmates at the Dixon Correctional Institute were charged with murder in the stabbing death of another inmate, 20th Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla said Nov. 12. Joseph Constance, 29, Terrell Holmes, 33, Arsenio Wells, 34, and Taylor Williams, 29, were indicted by an East Feliciana grand jury for second-degree murder
in the death of Cornelius Kelly, court documents show. The jury took three minutes to deliberate, D’Aquilla said. Kelly, 39, of New Roads, was stabbed by another inmate at the Jackson facility around 9 a.m. on Nov. 5, according to Sheriff Jeff Travis. According to the East Feliciana Sheriff’s Office, the inmates were serving sentences for the
ä See STABBING, page 2G