SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
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, M a r c h 12, 2025
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Residents add detail to voting rights history BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
The Rev. Joe Carter was the first African American since 1902 to register to vote in West Feliciana Parish in 1963, but he was not alone. Countless pictures by renowned civil rights photographer Bob Adelman recorded the struggle, but the faces, for the most part, have no names. More than 60 years after that pivotal year, an organized effort has formed to fill the gaps. A group of residents gathered Feb. 22 for Photography Collection Viewing: CORE — Louisiana Voter Registration — 1963. Adelman was on assignment for Ebony magazine and as a volunteer photographer for the CORE when he spent time in West Feliciana Parish. His pictures were later published in Ebony’s February 1964 issue in the “Birth of a Voter” article.
“It’s one thing to read in your history books about the Civil Rights Movement, but it is an entirely different thing to see it in action and to see it in your home stat. There’s a saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words, and you know, a video is even more.”
different thing to see it in action and to see it in your home state,” she said. “There’s a saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words, and you know, a video is even more.” Any confirmed identifications will be shared with the Adelman estate to ensure their names are properly recorded in history, but an online archive of the material is available at bobadelman.net/galleries/core/louisiana/. STACIE DAVIS, “I highly recommend, if you get West Feliciana Parish Library director a chance, you know, it’s free to watch online,” Davis said. Community and civic leader The presentation, held at the Dyvar Anderson-Wright recogWest Feliciana Parish Library, was nizes significance to both the past a work session of residents looking and current generations. There is for familiar faces and connecting the importance of voting and the the dots when possible. Library Di- generational shift in civic engagerector Stacie Davis said the view- ment. She has been a part of the community her entire life and recing was an unique opportunity. “It’s one thing to read in your his- ognized people like the Baker and tory books about the Civil Rights ä See VOTING, page 2G Movement, but it is an entirely
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Community and civic leader Dyvar Anderson-Wright stands in front of the projection of a historic photo Feb. 22 at the West Feliciana Parish Library. The photo, from the Congress of Racial Equality image collection, shows African American residents lined up at the gates of Grace Church waiting to register to vote in 1963. West Feliciana Parish Library Director Stacie Davis watches on at left.
EAST FELICIANA PARISH POLICE JURY
Confusion delays vote on residential subdivision rules
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
Everett and Carter Bankston load up the larger table of two purchased by Kelly Bankston.
PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
WHAT A FIND Scouts raise money for projects, trips, activities with annual garage sale
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
The traditional fundraiser has been going on for about 25 years, estimated Scoutmaster Paul A crowd turned out Saturday for Blanchard. Money raised goes toward regthe annual BSA Troop 51 Garage Sale in Jackson. istration and fees for the various Items ranging from exercise activities, trips and projects the equipment to clothes to furniture scouts participate in. to toys, Christmas decorations and Scouts with Troop 51 are from dishes, electronic equipment and East and West Feliciana parishes. more filled the Jackson Civic Cen- The assistant scoutmaster is Benjie Felker. ter and the front porch area. Contributing writer
Scout mom Kara Tillman, left, checks out Kelly Bankston of Clinton whose purchases included a small and large tables. ä More photos. PAGE 3G
The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury backed away from holding a public hearing this month on proposed new residential subdivision regulations because of confusion over what version of the new rules are up for adoption. Jury President Louis Kent said at the jury’s March 3 meeting that three members of the Planning Commission approached him and said the version jurors had received was not the one the commission adopted. The jury was scheduled to hold a public hearing March 17 on the proposed amendments to the parish’s subdivision ordinance, but Kent persuaded the jury to call off the hearing and send the matter back to the commission. Kent did not name the three commission members he said approached him, and the discussion of the purported changes revealed little as to who changed the document and what was changed. The jury adopted a six-month moratorium on new subdivision development last August and later extended it by two months. Jurors said it will need to be extended again but they did not act on an extension during the meeting. Another mystery surfaced when Kent called for a special election to rededicate excess revenues from a 3-mill property tax that funds the parish health unit. Kent said at one time the jury was authorized to split excess revenues, after the health unit’s funding was met, 50-50 between the
ä See VOTE, page 2G
Ball registration open Mississippi River high but dropping in West Feliciana BY LEILA PITCHFORD Staff writer
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
West Feliciana Parks & Recreation has opened registration for baseball, softball and T-ball. Deadline is Friday, March 14. Costs is $90. Visit www.wfprec.com to register. Call (225) 784-8447 for information.
Comedy fundraiser planned The St. Patrick’s Comedy for Kids event benefits West Feliciana Young Life and helps kids go to camp this summer. It will be at 6:30 p.m. March 13 at The Mallory, 5747 Commerce St., St. Francisville.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
The Mississippi River and Bayou Sara were high in the last days of February and beginning of March. The former ferry landing was covered a large distance by the river, and the parking area to the side was diminished between the river and Bayou Sara. According to water.noaa.gov/ STAFF PHOTO BY LEILA PITCHFORD gauges/btrl1, the river peaked at On Feb. 26, the Mississippi River was high at the old ferry landing 34.46 at Baton Rouge on March 5 and has been slowly dropping. At outside St. Francisville. Baton Rouge, it will to drop to 26.7 by March 22. shows it peaked at 41.26 the same diction. It is down to 40.26 as of The chart for St. Francisville date, but doesn’t show a pre- March 8.