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
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W e d n e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 4, 2024
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Development moratorium could be extended ST. FRANCISVILLE
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The St. Francisville Board of Aldermen took the initial step Nov. 26 to extend a moratorium on residential development while a new sewage treatment plant is under construction. The board introduced an ordinance to extend the halt on major development until March 31. A public hearing on the ordinance and a vote is expected at the Dec. 10 meeting. That meeting will include a public hearing on requests to rezone two tracts in the Pecan Grove area, including the old St. Francisville High School site that the School Board plans to sell to a residential developer.
The zoning change would allow smaller lots than are now allowed on the tracts. About 100 people attended a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on the zoning change, many of them concerned about added traffic in the area. The board enacted a development moratorium because the town’s sewage treatment plant frequently floods and is out of compliance with environmental standards. The existing ordinance, which expires Dec. 31, prohibits improvements or development of lots in a major subdivision or more than four multi-unit residential apartments on one site.
Engineer Bianca Hillhouse told the board that construction of the new treatment plant is progressing and the contractor may be able to start testing it by the end of December. Board members said they are hopeful the moratorium can be lifted before March 31 if the plant begins operating. Hillhouse said the next project will be closing the old oxidation ponds where sewage is now treated. The Dec. 10 meeting likely will be the last meeting for Mayor Robert Leake, who was defeated for re-election by Alderman Andy D’Aquilla, and Alderman Rucker Leake, who did not seek re-election.
Street from 30 to 20 mph from Pecan Grove Drive north of Jackson Road. Before the discussion and vote, resident Robert Honeycutt questioned the need for a lower speed limit, saying the board has lowered them in other areas several times this year. Honeycutt also claimed that the town does not enforce the speed limits now, but only “law-abiding people” honor them. The mayor said the lower speed limit on North Commerce is needed because of the recent expansion of a commercial area with additional pedestrian traffic and vehicles parking in the area. In other action “It’s been brought to our attention of how On another matter, the board voted to dangerous Commerce Street is,” the mayor lower the speed limit on North Commerce said.
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
West Feliciana Hospital celebrates holiday season West Feliciana Hospital is celebrating the holiday season all month long. From Christmas in the Country to a holiday lights display, the hospital invites the community to join in the following holiday events: Dec. 6: Cookies and Cocoa at the hospital beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8: Hospital float in the annual Christmas in the Country parade. Dec. 6-31: Drive through the hospital’s Magical Lights display.
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.
Silliman dance team members perform for the Council on Aging at a Thanksgiving party. ä More photos. PAGE 3G
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
COA seniors, Silliman students celebrate Thanksgiving
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
White Light shopping event
Contributing writer
Jackson’s annual White Light Christmas shopping event is set for Dec. 14. Held this year from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the historic McKowen building on Charter Street, in downtown Jackson, multiple vendors inside and outside will offer a variety of items. Food truck will also be nearby.
Seniors from across the parish enjoyed food, music and dancing at the East Feliciana Council On Aging’s Thanksgiving gathering held Nov. 21 at the Jackson site. The parents of Silliman Institute students provided the traditional holiday food to seniors for the third year, a COA spokesperson said. High school students served the meal and elementary students’ colorful artwork on placemats and cards were added to the table decorations. As part of the pre-meal festivities, students sang several seasonal songs for the crowd. Most of the young people also joined in with the COA seniors for several line-dances, laughing along the way. The Silliman dance team performed, receiving applause from the appreciative audience. Students also assisted by drawing the winning numbers for the numerous door prizes and the winning number for the fundraising raffle prize. Several students also participated by giving a brief devo- Artwork raffle winner Beth Dawson and husband, Scotty Dawson, at the East Feliciana Council on Aging’s Thanksgiving party. tional talk. Approximately 65 COA members were in attendance, according to a COA thanked the Silliman parents, teachers being part of the Thanksgiving fellowspokesperson. Director Cyndi McManus and students for providing the meal and ship and fun.
A Southern Christmas A Southern Christmas in Clinton will be Dec. 6 at the Feliciana Courthouse. The start time will be announced later. Events include the lighting of the courthouse Christmas tree, courtesy of the East Feliciana Police Jury. Santa and the Grinch will visit. St. Helena Street businesses open after the tree lighting and will have specials. There will be food, fun, a kids’ Christmas fun center, games, and lots of activities.
Christmas in the Country Some Christmas in the Country events need tickets, which can be purchased at bontempstix.com. Those include the Christmas Wreath Sale, which benefits St. Francisville Beautiful, a communitywide effort to beautify the Historic District with trees and ornamental plantings. Deadline for wreath orders is Nov. 29. Choices ranges from
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Officials wonder if Port Commission should exist
Port Hudson, does West Feliciana boat tour passengers who visit Parish President Kenny Havard Council reluctant Parish St. Francisville. The plans never has been vocal in opposing a new need a port commission? parish’s Port Commission developed, however, and the com- start for the commission, saying to name officials isThe a state-created agency that has mission has languished without at the council’s Nov. 12 meeting to agency that hasn’t existed for almost 20 years, but it funding or a viable project since. that “the port commission is dyscompleted a single project. In August 2023, commission functional and will continue to be done one project hasn’t At first, commission members members voted, but not unani- dysfunctional.”
and parish leaders explored the possibility of a port at which barges loaded with shipping containers Contributing writer from overseas commerce could be With the Mississippi River form- off-loaded for further inland transing its entire western boundary, portation by rail. Another idea proposed building from the state line at Angola south to Thompson Creek’s mouth near a landing and facility for river
BY JAMES MINTON
mously, to ask the Legislature to dissolve the panel, but state lawmakers have not addressed the request. Now, four of the commission’s nine seats are vacant, and the Parish Council has been reluctant to name new representatives.
The former legislator said state money is not available to get a new port up and running while existing ports need money for major improvements. Havard also advised the
ä See PORT, page 3G