DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
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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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Board moves to ensure children can’t access adult books BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
The new Livingston Parish Library Board took a crack at solving the looming budget problem — well, part of it — but it is unclear if and when library patrons will again receive certain repeatedly requested services. The group convened for the first time Wednesday, Jan. 29, since the Parish Council ousted the entire board earlier this month, replacing all but two members. Seven new members, the two existing members and Parish President Randy Delatte, using his status as an ex-officio member for the first time to vote on items, discussed and voted to restore parts of the 2025 budget. Also, the new board moved to try
LIVINGSTON PARISH LIBRARY BOARD
to satisfy people concerned about the possibility of sexually explicit books being available to children at the parish libraries. The board also unanimously approved moving young adult books to the adult sections while they are reviewed for potential explicit material, a motion presented by new member Becky Morgan. This move should somewhat appease residents concerned with possible sexually explicit books being in children’s sections of parish libraries — the root of the parish’s library controversy the past few years. Library director Michelle Parrish said this move should be done by the summer, as there are 30,000
materials to be reviewed and possibly moved. New member Jennifer Dorhauer initially proposed restoring the 2025 budget line items that were given less funding, or no funding at all, back in December. Delatte instead asked to table the proposal until the next board meeting in March. He said he needed more time to review the budget and called for protecting parish employees from insults resulting from library drama. “We’re only in the first month, I don’t expect any programs to be cut in the first month, and I’m not cutting programs, but I won’t go on record saying that,” Delatte said Wednesday.
Weeks ago, the library leaders said the media streaming platform Hoopla would be deactivated, seemingly because of the new budget approved by the former library board. Board members brought up the streaming platform Wednesday because it has been the most contentious issue among residents. The majority of the board and Delatte approved a substitute motion in a 6-4 vote to restore only specific budget line items that had lost all funding for 2025 to attempt to solve the Hoopla problem. These line items are eMusic, eVideo and eMagazines. The budget gives some money to eBooks and eAudioBooks, but the vote did not restore those items to their full budget. However, they both apply to the Hoopla platform, according to the library, meaning
there is no confirmation if the music streaming platform will available at the libraries. So for now, library goers will have to wait and see how much of Hoopla they might be able to use in the future. Events like the book festival or Comic Con and programs like adult literacy and readers club also saw funding decreases from the amended budget, or were allocated no money at all. It is unclear how these programs will go forward this year. Comic Con already had a date set for 2025 and was being advertised on social media for Feb. 22. It is unclear if the event will be held this year. Meanwhile, Tori Hymel and Becky Morgan were elected Wednesday as board president and vice president, respectively.
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
School system adjusts calendar because of weather To make up for missed days caused by the Jan. 21 snowfall, Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Jody Purvis has announced the district is adjusting its school calendar to recover instructional time. To add a day to the school calendar, students will be required to attend class on a day previously set for professional development day. Students will now have a regular class day restored on either Feb. 11, Feb. 12 or Feb. 13. All students and employees will be expected to attend those days. For more information, call (225) 686-7044 or visit lpsb.org.
DSHS Athletic Hall of Fame accepting nominations The Denham Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame and title sponsor Hood Dental Care are accepting nominations for its next class of inductees through March 31. Hall of Fame nomination guidelines are available on the DSHS website at www.denhamspringshs.org or by picking up a copy at the school office.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Kiwanis Club of East Livingston celebrates its charter BY VIC COUVILLION Contributing writer
The Kiwanis Club of East Livingston, the parish’s newest civic organization, was presented with its official charter and the members were given Kiwanis lapel pins and certificates of membership Jan. 30 during a ceremony held at Springfield High School. Presenting the charter to the new club was Kay Landry, of the Walker Kiwanis Club, the sponsoring club for the new East Livingston group. Landry has been the adviser to the new
ä See KIWANIS, page 2G
PHOTO BY PATRICK DENNIS
Denham Springs’ Joshua Beasley (7) tries to control the ball as Dutchtown’s Jake Chaix (9) defends during Denham’s 1-0 victory in their January Division I, District 5 boys soccer match.
Denham Springs soccer teams win in first round of playoffs Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
The soccer programs at Denham Springs, boys and girls, put up memorable performances during this year’s regular season and they were rewarded last week when the LHSAA Division I playoff seedings came. The girls (13-4-1) were seeded No. 7 while the boys (16-0-1)
were the top seed, a first for the program. Interestingly, the seedings resulted in both teams playing their respective counterparts from Terrebonne High. For Livingston Parish soccer fans, the pairings set up onestop shopping for the opening round of the playoffs when
Denham Springs hosted a doubleheader between the schools Saturday. The Denham Springs boys defeated Terrebonne 8-0, and the Denham Springs girls won their match against Terrebonne 4-2.
ä See SALZER, page 4G