SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
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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, A p r i l 30, 2025
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EAST FELICIANA
Repairs to jail, equipment in works Police Jury allocates American Rescue Plan grant
Three crosses stand on a nearby hillside at Centenary State Historic Site near the Easter Sunday sunrise service.
BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury allocated nearly $400,000 in federal funds April 21 to various repair and equipment expenses, most of them at the parish jail. The $397,656 in federal funds came to the parish through the American Rescue Plan Act, a 2021 Biden administration nationwide allocation of $1.9 trillion to stimulate the economy after the COVID-19 economic slowdown. On another matter, the jury voted 7-2 to award Entergy Louisiana a 30-year franchise to operate in the parish, which will result in a slight increase to Entergy’s residential and commercial customers’ monthly bills. Jury President Louis Kent said the ARPA money had to be allocated by the end of April or it would have to be returned to the federal government. The money was earmarked for these projects: n Replacing four detention sliding gates and one swinging gate at the parish jail, $125,644. n Repairing the roof of the Clerk of Court’s building, $46,980, although jurors said they wanted to see if a warranty remains in effect for the last roof job on the building. n Replacing motorized jail doors, $20,736. n Buying a 36-inch gas range and an ice maker for the jail, $17,550. n Buying two clothes dryers for the jail, $13,263. n Repairing a sewer line at the District Attorney’s office, $5,389. n Door repairs at the jail, $4,431. Another $163,663 was allocated to future repair work needed at the jail, which opened in 1988. Learning that the clothes dryers are used for laundering clothing worn by all inmates in the facility led to a discussion of whether an agreement is in effect for cost-sharing in the jail’s operations. The Police Jury is responsible for parish prisoners, but Sheriff Jeff Travis, like his two immediate predecessors, supplements his budget by housing
ä See GRANT, page 2G
St. Francisville Board of Aldermen lessens meeting frequencies BY JAMES MINTON
Contributing writer
The St. Francisville Board of Aldermen voted April 22 to meet once a month instead of twice a month, as has been the custom for years. When the ordinance takes effect, meetings will be at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, rather than the second and fourth Tuesdays. The change will begin in July, but the board will meet twice in both May and June, members said. No one spoke for or against the change during a public hearing on the proposed ordinance, although Abby Temple Cochran said she hopes special meetings will be called if meeting only once a month would cause a delay for a constituent who needed the board to decide some issue. Mayor Andy D’Aquilla, who proposed the idea in March, said a special meeting could be called with 24-hour notice to the public if needed. He also said the board could rescind the ordinance if more than one meeting was needed in a month. D’Aquilla said in March that agendas for recent meetings then had only a few items that needed to be considered. “I think we could get our business done in one meeting per month,” D’Aquilla said at the earlier meeting.
PHOTSO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
After the Easter service in Jackson, people stop to visit with each other enjoying the fellowship as they picked up their lawn chairs from the outdoor sunrise service.
Centenary State Historic Site hosts sunrise Easter service
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
Christians celebrated the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday at a community service at sunrise in Jackson. The service, with leaders from several churches participating, was held on the lawn in front of the remaining West Wing Dormitory at the Centenary State Historic Site. It was the second year for the community sunrise service to be held at the location. A trio of crosses was placed on a nearby hill earlier in the week. The peaceful Sunday morning setting was under an overcast sky and with a
slight breeze blowing. An instrumental musical prelude was offered by Vanessa Mendel and sons, Tony and Nico. Professing the risen Christ, the Rev. Chris Curry, pastor of the Jackson and Ethel United Methodist churches, opened the service. He thanked those instrumental in making the outdoor Easter possible service including his fellow pastors, musicians and evangelist. Curry continued as he led those gathered in the opening and responsive passages. An invocation by the Rev. William Free, pastor of the Jackson Church of Christ, followed. Several hymns were sung through-
out the service beginning with the one led by the Rev. Clark Fooshee, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Jackson. Evangelist Michael Elliott was next offering special music. The Rev. Daniel Harris, pastor of Mount Gideon Baptist Church of Jackson, gave a prayer, followed by all joining in for the Lord’s Prayer. Special music was then sung by Ricky Lee of Lighthouse Church of Jackson. The Rev. Clint Stewart, pastor of Ethel Baptist Church, read the account of the resurrection from the Gospel of John 20:1-18. The Easter sermon was delivered by the Rev. Joey Hoyt of the Lighthouse Church.
Entergy updating River Bend Station alarms Community news report Entergy’s River Bend Station will soon modernize the local emergency notification process, transitioning to a nationally approved system that continues to alert broadcast and news outlets while putting information directly in the hands of residents, a news release said. Similar to how people now get storm warnings through their electronic and mobile devices, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System will give local residents more information in a timelier manner should an emergency occur. The IPAWS system has been used nationwide for years and is used by major nuclear plants for emergency alerts. IPAWS works by sending local emer-
gency messages to the public through mobile phones using wireless emergency alerts, to radio and television via the Emergency Alert System and also on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather radio. The Federal Emergency Management Agency developed IPAWS over a decade ago. In case of an emergency, notifications would be shared directly with phones, radios and televisions within a 10-mile radius of the plant. Though they might not recognize the name, many southern U.S. residents are familiar with the system through tornado warnings and Amber alerts. Working with local leaders and emergency management officials, Entergy was expected to transition to the modern-
ized system by April 23. As part of the process, West Feliciana Parish will test the system during the transition to ensure it operates safely and reliably. Eventually, local sirens will be obsolete. At one time, they were the best technology available. But today, it is sometimes hard to hear sirens inside structures, and the IPAWS system has been tested and refined over many years, allowing immediate access to potentially lifesaving information, the release said. After the transition, monthly siren tests will stop. The new system will be tested monthly, but residents generally will receive only one test message per year. More information will be shared over time, including additional system test dates.
Home and garden event coming in May Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
The Feliciana Master Gardeners and St. Francisville Beautiful will hold the St. Francisville Home & Garden Stroll on May 10. Proceeds from the open house, garden tours and afternoon workshops go to 4-H scholarships, school gardens and other community projects. Visit tinyurl.com/4ww7stud for tickets. Tickets are nonrefundable. A plant sale will be held from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Corbel and Farmers Market Barn. It is open to ticket holders and the public. This year’s tour invites visitors to experience six private residences situated in and around St. Francisville’s Historic District for patio and garden tours, and opportunities to step inside select homes to see inspiring floral arrangements. Participating tour
sites will be showcasing seasonal decorations and serving refreshments. The day’s schedule will include: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.: Open house and garden tour. $40 1 p.m.-5 p.m.: Lectures, workshops, and a plant sale taking place in the Garden Space at The Corbel. $40 6 p.m.-9 p.m.: A “Bridgerton”-
style private dinner at the newly completed home of St. Francisville Inn owners Brandon Branch and Jim Johnston, featuring a multiple-course feast prepared by St. Francisville Inn Executive Chef Michael Dardenne, and live entertainment. Seating is limited. $250 per person.
ä See AROUND, page 2G