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, F e b r u a ry 5, 2025
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East Feliciana Parish manager to leave post March 27 No move made to fill vacancy
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
David Amrhein, the East Feliciana Parish Police Jury’s manager of day-to-day operations, will be leaving his post March 27, according to a letter read during the jury’s Jan. 27 session. Amrhein has been parish manager since the jury hired him on Feb. 19, 2024, to fill a post vacated a year earlier by Joseph Moreau. Jury Secretary Yamesha Harris served as interim manager between Moreau and Amrhein. Amrhein moved to East Feliciana Parish in 2022, shortly after finishing his 12th year as Zachary’s
mayor. He also served two terms on the Zachary City Council before running for mayor in 2010. He was hired at an annual salary of $82,500. Amrhein left the meeting to attend a grandson’s athletic event before his resignation letter, dated Jan. 16, was read to the audience, but he mentioned during a discussion of another matter that he wouldn’t be around to participate in an upcoming decision the jury will face. “Thank you for the opportunities for professional and personal development that you have provided me during the last year,” his letter says. “I have enjoyed my time here and appreciate the support provided me during my tenure with the company.” Although the letter was in the
Former Zachary Mayor David Amrhein talks during a 2024 East Feliciana Police Jury meeting.
packet of documents given to jurors for the meeting, jury President Louis Kent expressed surprise that Personnel Committee Chair Chrissie O’Quin read it, saying the matter was not on the agenda. O’Quin said Harris approached her to say Amrhein wanted the letter read. Jurors took no action to begin a search for a new parish manager. On another matter, a chorus of “oohs” came from the audience when jurors took up Amrhein’s suggestion to buy 10 new pickup trucks at a total state contract price of $415,387. Amrhein said the jurors should look at the maintenance costs for its existing fleet, which he
FILE PHOTO BY JAMES MINTON
ä See MANAGER, page 3G
WEST FELICIANA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD
Foundry gets OK for tax exemptions
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Get Valentines chocolate at blood drive West Feliciana Hospital is holding a community blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the hospital in the meeting room next to the cafeteria. Walk-ins are welcome. Donate blood and receive a box of chocolate. All donated blood stays in the West Feliciana community to help support those in need.
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
Mammograms in Jackson Woman’s Hospital’s mammography coach is offering 3D mammograms Feb. 25 at East Feliciana Primary Care, 3050 Charles Drive, Jackson. Physician’s orders are required and appointments are strongly encouraged. Call (225) 634-3517 to schedule. Visit www.womans.org to see other locations and times.
Polo event returns The Azalea Polo Classic is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., April 6, at West Feliciana Parish Park, 10226 W. Feliciana Parkway, St. Francisville. The event benefits the West Feliciana Historical Society. Event tickets are $125 per person and include admission to the event, hors d’oeuvres, house wine and beer and prepared cocktails. Must be 21 and older to purchase event tickets (18+ to attend the event). General admission tickets went on sale Feb. 1. Visit www. azaleapoloclassic.com for information.
Breastfeeding class at Lane Lane’s free breastfeeding class is set from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 8 in the board conference room at Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary. Registered nurse Kiara Carnes with Baby Lane Labor and Delivery Unit will the discuss the ABC’s of Breastfeeding, including: n Appeal of Breastfeeding and Why It’s Important n Best Breastfeeding Positions n Common Challenges with Breastfeeding n She will answer questions about breastfeeding, plus more To reserve a spot, call (225) 658-6612 or email jschmolke@ LaneRMC.org.
ä See AROUND, page 3G
PROVIDED PHOTO
A vintage car rides in the Feliciana Family & Friends Mardi Gras parade in Clinton on Jan. 25.
Mardi Gras in the Country
On Jan. 25, as East Feliciana Parish thawed from its record snowfall, Clinton came alive with the sights and sounds of Mardi Gras in the Country parade. A record number of revelers turned out: estimates are more than 3,500 people attended. Every year the parade and community work by the Feliciana Family & Friends Mardi Gras committee grows by leaps and bounds. This was the 20th annual parade and it was a welcome end to a wintry week. Winners were announced on Facebook. Best Car: King Carl Holliday Best Truck: Grand Marshal Emma Thompson Best Float: Krewe of Unity Best Horse Presentation: Grand Marshal Ronnie Jett Best Band: Northeast High School Marching Band Best Dancers: Unique Divas & Coents Dance Team Best Carts: Greensburg Cart Riders ä More photos from the Clinton parade. PAGE 2G
The West Feliciana Parish School Board turned a routine financial decision into a learning experience as it considered two tax exemptions at its Jan. 28 meeting. The board also honored three employees for their years of service, including one with a half-century of work on his record. Howell Foundry, which makes metal castings for components used in area industrial equipment, applied to the state Department of Economic Development for two 10-year property tax exemptions for additions to its plant. School Superintendent Hollis Milton said the board could have waived its right to weigh in on the tax exemptions, but he said he wanted to invite the foundry’s owner, Zed Howell, to attend the meeting and explain how the exemptions will aid in the expansion. The two exemptions, which the board approved unanimously, will save the foundry $10,100 in property taxes for each of the 10year exemption period. The plant, which is in its 30th year of operation on U.S. 61 at the southern end of the parish, uses sand molds to cast its custommade metal products, Howell said. In the beginning, plant workers took machine drawings of the part and made wooden patterns to form the molds, made of special sand mixed with glue, for casting stainless steel and other metals. The company eventually switched to sand molds made by 3D printers owned by another company, but in 2022 bought its own printer. The sand, which is refined and sold by another company, was discarded after the mold was used, but the latest innovation has the plant reclaiming the sand for its use in other molds, Howell said. By reclaiming the sand, the company can better control the time that it takes to deliver components to customers, he said. In addition to learning how the company will use the tax break, Milton said he wants Howell and key people from the company to visit the high school’s career and technical center and to discuss possible ways to introduce the students to the local operation.
Employees honored The board presented plaques and lauded employees William Harris, Cynthia Whitaker and Carlotta Coates for their service to the school system. Harris has been a school bus driver for 50 years, a surprising fact that led to a doublechecking of personnel records. “Thank you for the love that you give our kids,” Milton told Harris, adding that he gives students positive attitudes as they are transported to their schools. “You’ve got to run me away from here. I’ve got to bring those babies to school,” Harris said in accepting the service award. Whitaker, a Head Start worker for 30 years, was described as “a walking Head Start encyclopedia” for her knowledge of
ä See FOUNDRY, page 3G