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, n ov e m b e r 20, 2024
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Board tables Jabbia’s $325M upgrades plan Board now will vote on Dec. 12, public election still likely for spring BY ANDREW CANULETTE Staff writer
PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
World War II veterans Sam Ford and James Robertson are honored at the American Legion Veterans Day ceremony in Covington on Nov. 11.
HONOR IN SERVICE
ä See UPGRADES, page 3A
Covington says yes to $36.6M budget BY ANDREW CANULETTE Staff writer
INSIDE
ä Covington and American Legion Post 16 honor area veterans. Page 2A ä The Northshore Community Orchestera celebrates veterans with concert in Slidell. Page 2A
The St. Tammany Parish School Board tapped the brakes on an ambitious fiveyear, $325 million capital improvements plan a week after it was introduced publicly by schools superintendent Frank Jabbia. The School Board voted 10-5 on Nov. 14 to table the measure until its Dec. 12 meeting. Jabbia The 12 members who attended Committee as a Whole meetings on Nov. 7 voted unanimously to recommend the school-improvement plan be brought to a vote at their regular monthly meeting
PHOTO BY MATTHEW DOBBINS
St. Tammany musicians celebrate Veterans Day with color and music at the Northshore Community Orchestra concert.
The Covington City Council approved a $36.63 million budget for 2025 when it gathered Nov. 12 for its monthly meeting. The council unanimously approved the budget, originally submitted by Mayor Mark Johnson in September, with a few alterations. Among the more notable changes was upping Johnson’s suggested 1% cost-ofliving salary increase for city employees to a 3% raise for all full-time employees, including the mayor. The council stuck with
ä See COVINGTON, page 3A
St. Tammany man finds peace through camera lens BY MARGARET ALBERT Contributing writer
Eric McVicker’s day job is in the world of politics — every facet of it, including fundraising, campaign management, media, prepping candidates and more. A military brat, McVicker moved to Ohio when he was 3. By the time he was living and working in Washington, D.C., he became unhappy with life and came to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Falling in
love with the robust life of this region, he moved to be here. McVicker has worked on more than 100 campaigns, earning his first check in the business at age 16. He has served as a board member for the Northshore Humane Society, Safe Harbor and the Youth Services Bureau and was chosen for the parish Chamber of Commerce’s 40 under 40. He’s a graduate of LSU and Loyola University’s Institute of Politics program.
As McVicker became entrenched in politics, he said he learned that “politics is a drinking man’s game.” “It’s a conduit of sorts in the political world. There’s a lot of stress and BS to deal with, and the alcohol aspect becomes very hush-hush. Addiction is accompanied by a destination mindset, as in ‘I’ll quit after this campaign,’ or ‘I’ll quit when I can put more of my focus on it’. The destination is always
PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
Eric McVicker is having an opening of his work at North Star Theatre in Mandeville and awaiting the publication of a book ä See CAMERA, page 3A of his photography this month.
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! These shucked, Local Gulf Oysters are also available in half pints, quarts and half gallons. We also have 36 count sacks of Fresh Oysters in the shell available.
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When you purchase a Hormel Cure 81 Ham.
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Farmers Michael & Matt Garber Iota, Louisiana
U.S. #1 GARBER FARMS
Louisiana Sweet Potatoes Louisiana Local
23
¢LB
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Limit One 40lb Case
Buy a Hormel Cure 81 Spiral Half ham at $2.99 lb and get up to 14 lbs FREE on a Butterball Grade A Frozen Turkey. Limit 1 offer with a $25 purchase. In store only. Not valid on curbside pickup or delivery orders.
gulf coast Local
PINT CONTAINER WILD-CAUGHT
Fresh Local Gulf Oysters
visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!
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11 99
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Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores November 20th - Thanksgiving Day, 2024.