The Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate 12-18-2024

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

DenhamSprings residents have theopportunitytoplaypickleball, escapethe heat in awaterpark or tee off at

ture

ALLDECKEDOUT IN DENHAM

Christmasinthe Villageongoing

The Denham Springs Christmas in the Village celebration continueswith aconcert by theBaton Rouge Symphony Orchestra at 6p.m. Thursday in the historic district and aChristmas Alive show is at 6p.m. Dec. 22. For a complete schedule, visit www cityofdensprings.comorwww.denhamspringsantiquedistrict.com.

Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON

Live Nativity in Walker Walker is hosting alive NativityScene from 2p.m. to 4p.m. Dec. 21 outsidethe city’sCommunity Center. Christmas crafts will be at theoutdoor pavilionfrom 2p.m. to 4p.m. Local churches willpresent Christmas caroling from 4:30 p.m. to 6p.m. For more information or to explore volunteer opportunities, contact thecity of Walker’sParks and Recreation Department at parksandrecinfo@walker-la.gov or call (225) 665-3755.

HistoryofPonchatoula

Pick up acopy of “Ponchatoula, ACommunity History” by Jim Perrin at CJ’sAntiques, thePonchatoula Country Market, Bayou Booksellers, The Turquoise Coyote and The Tangi Times News headquarters. This final printing, madewith slight revisions of the 318-page historyofPonchatoula, is offered for a limited time. It is an illustrated volume, complete with maps and fully indexed. ChristmasCrusade collecting donations Livingston ParishSheriff’s Office has announced the dates for Sheriff Jason Ard’s Christmas Crusade. Deputies are collecting donations across theparish and families in need of

The Denham Springs girls soccer team got off to asluggish start in last week’shome game against Liberty Magnet, but it didn’tlast and it was nothing like theoverall start the Yellow Jackets have had this season. Despite dominating the first half when it fired off 16 shots to only 1 for the visitors,Denham Springs found itself in ascoreless tie at halftime. That changed 90 seconds into thesecond half when Addison Wyatt scored, and theJackets (7-2-0) rolled after that to take a6-0 win.

Juliana “Juju” Williams, who has already scored 20 goals this season, got four in the second half onslaught.Now ajunior,Williams has stepped into aleading role after Denham Springs graduated five starters from last season’steam that earned aNo. 2 seed for theLHSAA DivisionI playoffs “It’s definitely hard adjusting with five

seniors leaving because they were abig part of the team. They played major roles,” Williamssaid after the winover Liberty.“But with all the work we do in the summer, Ifeel like everything is coming together.We’re getting that chemistry back and we’re getting better and better “The plan is to be ready for state.” Last year,Denham Springs went 15-2-3 and had high hopes before being upset 1-0 at Barbe in the second round. The loss has served as motivation foraJackets program that is proving it has staying power despite replacing five starters. “We’ve got agreat core group,” fourthyear coach Jeff Klug said. “It’sexciting for us

Walker budgetincludesfunding forroad, park improvements

BY VIC COUVILLION

Contributing writer

The Walker City Council anticipates spending $23.9 million on general fund expenses in 2025.

The council approved its 2025 fiscal year budget Dec.9,saying the budget changes little from the current budget. The city’sbudget reflects income from salestaxesand various fees and permits issued by the city.The general fund budget is also boosted by earnings from Walker’sEnterpriseFund, the revenue stream that is funded bysales of natural gas and other utilities

The largest ticket item in the new budgetis$14.4 million designated for capital outlay.The city anticipates spending$2.6 million for general and administrative expenses. The Walker Police Department is budgeted at $2 million for its operations. Thecity’s Parks and Recreation Department is scheduled for abudget of approximately $1 million. The Animal Control Center will operate on abudget of $371,000 while $708,000 is designatedfor debt service.

Richard Wales, left,who has servedasa city councilman

four-year termsonthe Walker City Council

is honored by Walker MayorJimmy Watson at the conclusion of the

council’smeeting on Dec. 9. Watson commended Wales for his service to thecity duringhis manyterms on thecouncil.

The Enterprise Budget for new year lists income at $12.6 million. The major source of income is service charges for natural gas andwater andsewer service in the amount of $11.4

AROUND

assistance with Christmas gifts can apply beginning Dec. 2. Toys will be delivered Dec. 20.

Learning center classes

The Southeaster LifeLong Learning Center in Walker is accepting students for upcoming classes. To register for the classes, visit southeastern.nbsstore. net/life-long-learning-livingston-center

Learn to speak Italian during an online class with the Southeastern Life-Long Learning program starting Jan. 21. The class, held on Tuesdays is $60. Register for ACT prep

classes on Jan.16and Jan. 23. The class costs $195. Learn how to fly adrone at an introduction to drones class TuesdaysinJanuary The online class is $125.

TheMerriestMile

Tickets are on sale for the Merriest Mile drive-thru Christmas lightshow,set throughDec. 31 at theLivingston Parish Fairgrounds, 19869 Fairgrounds Road. Admission for asingle vehicle with up to 8people is $25 on weekdaysand $30 on weekends. For tickets, visit themerriestmile.ticketspice.com/ the-merriest-mile.

Farmersmarket

The Four Seasons Farmers Market is open from 8a.m to noon every Saturday at

the city parking lot at Hummel Street and Railroad Avenue. Fresh vegetables, fruits and handmade items are on sale from vendors. The Dec. 21 Holiday Market will include abooth decorating contest, pot luck and other Christmastime fare. At thelibrary

Main Branch in Livingston

Contact the Main Branch in Livingston at (225) 6864160 or visit www.mylpl. info for more details on any event.

Dec. 18, 3:30 p.m., Crafty Christmas Tree Cards (all ages): It’sa program for the whole family.Get crafty with your crew.Make a variety of handmade holiday tree-themed cards to send to all your friends.

$137,000 in charges. Operating expenses for theGas Department are about $4.5 million. The Sewer Department is budgeted at $1.4 million whilethe WaterDepartment will have abudgetof$1.7 million. The anticipated costof garbage pickup is $450,000.

The city also derives some revenue from aspecial sales tax that brings in about $1.8 million ayear

DirectorofFinances Mike Cottondetailed how some tax monies will be spentinthe coming fiscal year for capital outlay projects. Among the items he listed are improvements to Pendarvis Lane. This project will be doneinthree phases with the total cost set at approximately $3.7 million.Cost of theTaylorBayou Drainage Mitigation Project is about $8 million.The Aydell Lane bridge replacement will cost $1.1 million and the Burgess Road Sidewall Extension is set for $560,000. All of these projects are largely funded by federal and state grants with some being supplemented by matches from thecity Set for Sidney Hutchinson Park are funds for completion of the disc golf course and parking lot improvements. The total budget for Capital Outlay is $14.4 million.

Discussing the coming fiscal year,Cotton told the council,

Enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies. Registration is required.

Albany-Springfield Branch

Contact the AlbanySpringfield Branch at (225) 686-4130 or visit www mylpl.info for more details on any event at this LPL branch.

Dec. 28, 11 a.m., Puzzle Café (ages 18+): Join the library staff for puzzles and refreshments at the Puzzle Café, held on the fourth Saturday of every month. The café continues until 3p.m.

Send newsand eventsfor Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes to livingston@ theadvocate.com by 4p.m. Friday or call (225) 3880731.

SALZER

“onceagain thecityispartnering with state, federal and other sources to bring improvements for our citizens We will continue to be the best stewardswecan be of the money our citizens raise through taxes.” At the same meeting, the council also approved an updated pay schedule for city employees. The long list includes the increases in what is listedas“Beginning Salary,” and “Ending Salary.” All positions on the city’semployee rolls from the police chief to the lowest paid workers are included on the detailed list. In explaining the new pay schedule Chief of Operations Jamie Etheridge said the list does not mean that all employees will be paid on the upper end of the schedule. He said the increases on the general schedule reflect increases in the federal Consumer Price Index Etheridge said thecity will rewrite the pay schedule every few years to reflect thehigher cost of living in the area.

Mayor Jimmy Watsonpresented Council Member Richard Wales with aplaque honoring Wales for his service to the city over the past 20 years. Wales has served four,four-year terms during that time. He chose not to seek re-election in balloting this fall.

Tubbs.

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in our fourth year.The girls have done agreat job of stepping up and performing.”

Denham Springs has recorded four shutouts in its last five games and allowed 10 goalsonthe season. Defensive credit goes to senior goalkeeper Claire Marx and apair of junior center backs, Amaiya Pitre and Saylor Juszczak.

Klug also gave credit to Alaina Milamfor her work running the left wing, as well as two younger players seeing their first varsity action —Dania Merida andMia

Having young players move into the lineupisa testament to the growth of youth soccer in Denham Springs, something that Klug has pushed since he started with the Jackets.

“The current eighth grade group is the first one that we started with when they were 10,” he said. “Now we’re starting to see the fruits of our labor.”

Like the Jackets’ strong finish last week against Liberty,youth soccer is gaining momentumin liberty

Charles Salzercovers Livingston sports for the Livingston-Tangipahoa Advocate. To reach Salzer,email livingston@ theadvocate.com.

to tellwhat will happen to facilities without the millage funding. He said they plan on having atownhall style meeting opentothe public to discuss the next steps.

The current tax collected for the recreationdistrict will end in 2025.

The PARDS department issued a press release Monday saying it was “deeply disappointed” that thatthe millage vote failed. It highlighted itsparks and utilities and mentioned what the property taxpays for

The department said the millage pays for maintenance of its four parks and allows district residents discounts for sports, daycare, the aquatics center,the golf course and more.

“Without amillage renewal we will be forced to reevaluate our services and offeringstothe public includingin-district discounts for residents of RecreationDistrict 3,” the press release states. “Weintend to bring the vote back to the people and ask for their support.”

Denham Springsissandwiched

betweenBaton Rougeand Walker, two towns that both have their own parks and recreation systems but offer differentfacilities and prices.

The rejection can most likely be boileddown to the rampant case of tax fatigue the parish has. Similarly,the parish rejected aproperty tax renewalfor the parish health unit in November.

“Wepay alot of taxes, anda lot of times most of the majority of people don’tknow where their tax moneygoes,”Parish President Randy Delatte said about the health unit millage rejection

Email Claire Grunewald at claire.grunewald@theadvocate. com.

THE LIVINGSTON-TANGIPAHOAADVOCATE

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Josiah Pellegrin pushes his daughter KaiyaPellegrin with his wife, Maddie Pellegrin,

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