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
|
W e d n e s d ay, F e b r u a ry 26, 2025
$1.00N
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Scout garage sale set March 8 BSA Troop 51 of Jackson will have its annual garage sale March 8 at the Jackson Civic Center. The garage sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Teacher job fair West Feliciana Parish Schools welcomes educators to a Teacher Job Fair on March 15, with interview appointments available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is an opportunity for teachers to meet school leaders, explore job openings, and discover what makes the district a great place to work, a news release said. For job fair details and to schedule an interview, visit www.wfpsb.org and go to the Teacher Job Fair page.
Movie event set in Jackson The Jackson Branch of the Audubon Regional Library will hold an Emotions in Motion event at 2 p.m. March 14. The event starts with a movie followed by an AI-generated game. Call the branch to sign up.
Learn about area’s business Applications are open for Leadership North 2025. Hosted by the Zachary Chamber of Commerce, the course focuses on communication skills, strategic thinking, tam building and community engagement. It’s a chance to meet and learn from local business leaders and others. It includes field trips. Spots are limited, and the deadline is Feb. 28. The course meets once a month beginning in April and runs through September. Cost is $600 per student, which includes meals. Sign up at www.zacharychamber.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER
O’Neill Sanford relaxes among memorabilia from his college band directing career in his home office. Sanford grew up in Slaughter and was the University of Minnesota’s first African American marching band director.
FOLLOW THE MUSIC How a kid from East Feliciana Parish became the first Black band director in the Big Ten
BY ROBIN MILLER
Staff writer
Call it the day the music died at the University of Minnesota. The temperature was somewhere below zero, but that didn’t stop 70,000-plus fans from filling Huntington Bank Stadium. O’Neill “Doc” Sanford doesn’t remember who the Golden Gophers were playing that day, but he does recall the frigid air’s bite. He was the band director, and it wasn’t
just chilly that day — it was brutally cold. Despite that, everyone was waiting for the band to run out of the stadium’s end zone tunnel to begin its pregame show. “We were warming up in the tunnel, waiting to run on the field,” Sanford said. “When it came time, we’d run out to the end zone and march out on the field to do the ‘Gophers’ spell-out.” But when the 300-piece band began to play John Philip Sousa’s “Minnesota March,” which traditionally brought them on the
field, no music came out of their horns. None. “Their horns were frozen,” Sanford said. “I didn’t know it was that cold. Even they didn’t know it was that cold. And they stood there playing, but no music was coming out.” He can laugh about it now in the warmth of his Baton Rouge home, but back then? Well, not so much.
ä See MUSIC, page 2G
Ball registration open West Feliciana Parks & Recreation has opened registration for baseball, softball and T-ball. Deadline is March 14. Costs is $90. Visit www.wfprec.com to register. Call (225) 784-8447 for information. Academy practice is at 5:30 p.m., March 19, based on level. Practices are March 24-April 11. Games are April 14 to June 6. Coaches and referees are needed.
Parade uses canine theme to aid animal welfare
Lane readies for cook-off Lane Foundation’s 10th annual Code Red Chili & Salsa CookOff, set for Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in Downtown Zachary, 4650 Main Street. The competition is open to amateurs and professionals of all ages. There are five cooking competition categories: Judges Red Chili, Judges Non-Traditional, Judges Salsa, People’s Choice Chili and People’s Choice Salsa. The Team Spirit award about how well the team embodies the spirit of the cook-off through their presentation, team costumes, decorations and overall attitude. Admission and parking to the family-friendly event are free.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
PROVIDED PHOTO
From left, Sa’Lacia Berry, Sa’Maria Berry and Sa’Naya Berry, of West Feliciana High School
West Feliciana coach’s connection with sisters grows over more than a decade BY ROBIN FAMBROUGH Staff writer
Coaching three siblings on the same basketball team seems like an unusual challenge. West Feliciana coach Tim Washington says coaching the Berry sisters was meant to be. “They are all starters for us, good kids and good basketball players,” Washington said. “More than anything else, I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. “Being part of their journey as a
teacher in middle school and now as their high school coach means the world. It’s special.” The 11th-seeded Saints (18-6) host No. 22 Assumption (12-16) at 6 p.m. Thursday to tip off the LHSAA’s Division II nonselect playoffs. Washington shares a nearly 14-yearold story that the sisters and some in the West Feliciana community know and understand. “I was an assistant coach for the boys team and their father, Sylvester
ä See SISTERS, page 2G
Tails were wagging in time and the featured guests were barking for the cause as the West Feliciana Animal Humane Society Friends hosted Krewe de Canine’s inaugural Rollin’ on the River dog parade Saturday in Parker Park. The group dedicated to local animal welfare has been in operation for more than a decade providing rescue and adoption services through the nonprofit that operates a no-kill shelter. In that time, they have hosted numerous fundraisers, including the famed Wags and Whiskers Gala, but the parade was a first. PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER The Parker Park venue was packed and lively with dogs Mardi Gras-garbed golden of all sizes and a few stuffed retriever Gus leaves the animals that could also be regisKrewe de Canine’s inaugural tered as parade entries. Event organizer Pam Malara Rollin’ on the River dog was surprised and encouraged parade Saturday. by the response. “We had 53 participating entries, which blows our mind, because we did not expect that much for our inaugural
ä See PARADE, page 3G