COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE • MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • SLIDELL
ST. TAMMANY
N O L A.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, J a n u a ry 22, 2025
1an
Mardi Gras must march on, Arthur Hardy says Carnival expert explains the significance of our biggest celebration
Arthur Hardy has forgotten more about Carnival than most people will ever know. Such is the depth of knowledge, and the passion, of a New Orleans-born boy whose fascination with our signature celebration began sometime during the Eisenhower Administration. A Carnival buff myself, I’ve followed Arthur since my own youth. His first Mardi Gras Guide was published in 1977 and my first copy of the magazine wound up in my hands only a few years later. To this day, release date of Arthur Hardy’s Mardi Gras Guide remains among the most-anticipated events of my year. These days — with me a few STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER years past the half-century Carnival expert Arthur Hardy says the mark and he nearing 80 — we northshore continues to offer a host of make it a point to meet reguwholesome options when it comes to larly to talk about any old thing, Carnival included. celebrating south Louisiana’s biggest party.
When the city received Here’s one such cona Tier 1 rating, meaning versation, held only days you’re a possible target after a terrorist attack for terrorists, you’ve on Bourbon Street in requested the highest New Orleans left 14 level of protection from dead and dozens more Andrew the federal government injured. Canulette that you can get. It was a much more ANDREW’S The good news is all sober conversation than ANGLE kinds of resources will most we’ve enjoyed in be brought to bear — the past, but we both bomb-sniffing dogs, found rays of hope, and drones, etc. How do you happiness, piercing make the parade route through the pallor of the safer? There was talk of particular day. FARMER: How is the CARNIVAL having only one parade route, but that’s appargreatest free show on Earth going to be imently not going to be the ST.TAMMANY case. pacted by this horrible PARADES But you know the attack, Arthur,, even though it had nothing to INSIDE, 3A discussions are going to continue. And frankly, do with Carnival? I think there are many more HARDY: The effects will be questions than answers right very long-lasting and very now. dramatic. The question in New Certainly, no one is saying Orleans is “Who’s in charge?”
2025
ABOVE: Libba Daniel, goalkeeper for the St. Scholastica soccer team, stands with some teammates before a match against Newman on Jan. 16 near Covington. Daniel, with the help of her teammates, was instrumental in organizing a pair of recent fundraisers for mental health awareness, including one that saw players wear red ribbons in their hair during the match. The ribbons were a sign of solidarity for Katie’s Save Foundation, which raises money and awareness for mental health awareness in the name of former Stanford University star Katie Meyer, who took her own life in 2022. LEFT: Lori Sercovich and Sara Daniel host a bake sale at the St. Scholastica Athletic Complex on Jan. 16. Proceeds benefited the Katie’s Save Foundation. Daniel’s daughter, Libba, is the goalkeeper for SSA’s soccer team.
Board OKs evaluation method for Jabbia
Residents grill Magnolia Water officials, elected leaders about rate hikes BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer
The president of a private utility company that provides water to thousands of residents in St. Tammany Parish defended his company’s work at a tense community meeting at the Harbor Center near Slidell on Jan. 14. The Missouri-based company, Central States Water Resources, rehabilitates failing private water and wastewater systems around the country, including in St. Tammany, where there is a proliferation of water and sewerage systems owned by private companies.
Metric matches strategic plan put in place last year
ment for the year 20242025 is designed to match a strategic plan that was instituted by the school district last year. The new BY KIM CHATELAIN evaluation tool essentially Contributing writer ties Jabbia’s performance A new metrics system for evaluating goals to those of the dis- Jabbia the performance of St. Tammany Parish trict. Schools Superintendent Frank Jabbia was The board approved the evaluation approved by the School Board on Jan. 16. ä See EVALUATION, page 4A The superintendent evaluation instru-
SAVE $ 00 6 LB
— ONLY —
100% PREMIUM USDA ANGUS CHOICE BEEF
Boneless Whole Rib Eye 100% PREMIUM USDA ANGUS CHOICE BEEF
Boneless Rib Eye Steaks
1299
$
LB
9
$ 99 LB
LB
ä See ANGLE, page 2A
PHOTOS BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
Ribbons of Hope
CUT & WRAPPED FREE!
“To hell with safety. Don’t mess with my parade.” But everyone is asking how much safer CAN you make it? We’ve been doing this since 1857 and with remarkably few incidents. We had the drunk driver that ran into the crowd at Endymion a few years ago. But other than that, there has been no other major incident I know of that was anywhere near what happened on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day. Have we been lucky? Yes, but I don’t think it’s possible to make this celebration completely safe or foolproof. You and I have talked about this a hundred times — anyone can throw a parade, have Mardi Gras. Many have tried.Very few have succeeded.And no one really comes close in this country to the largesse of what south Louisiana
LB
VALUE PACK
Boston Butt Pork Roast Limit 2
When You Buy 2
When You Buy 3
— ONLY —
1
$ 49 LB
CREAMY
LARGE Hass Avocados
ä See WATER, page 4A
SAVE $ 38 3
SAVE $ 52 2
SAVE $ 00 1
But some St. Tammany residents have complained that their bills doubled or even tripled under the company, which operates as Magnolia Water in Louisiana, even as their water usage has remained the same. Josiah Cox, president and founder of Central States Water Resources, told a crowd of agitated residents at the meeting that Magnolia has “fixed more systems than anybody else in Louisiana history.” “Your rates are the secondary effect of the investment,” he added. One of the company’s first investments in the parish was in 2019 in Eden Isles, a
— ONLY —
5
3/$
LIMIT 6 LB
6.5 - 10.75 SELECTED
Doritos, Fritos or Cheetos
visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!
— ONLY —
8
2/$
Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores January 22nd - January 29th, 2025.