DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
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W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 30, 2025
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Livingston Parish debates regulating kratom BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
While Louisiana state legislators are preparing to discuss banning or regulating kratom, Livingston Parish officials are hoping to take the decision into their own hands. The Livingston Parish Council introduced an ordinance Thursday to prohibit the sale of the contro-
versial herbal substance, but after a lengthy debate sent it back to the drawing board to potentially introduce regulations on selling kratom instead of the original outright ban. Kratom is an unregulated substance that can produce stimulating or sedating effects depending on the volume, and can be purchased at smoke shops or gas sta-
tions. The Drug Enforcement Administration has said it can cause plenty of side effects like seizures and hallucinations. The timing to introduce a plan to tackle kratom parishwide comes right after officials in Denham Springs held off on banning the substance in hopes that the state Legislature takes action. Livingston Parish Council mem-
ber John Mangus introduced the idea and said the issue was brought to his attention over a year ago. He said kratom is a serious issue, and the council wants to do what is best for the people. “I don’t think you elected me to wait,” Mangus said about delaying this ordinance while state lawmakers are debating the same issue. Louisiana lawmakers are con-
sidering two competing bills this session concerning kratom. One would ban possessing and selling the substance; the other would regulate it by adding age restrictions and limiting certain types of kratom products for sale. In 2021 in Livingston Parish, a 2-year-old girl died after ingesting
ä See KRATOM, page 2G
SPRING IN ACTION
Face painter Jensen Henderson, left, paints on Preston Cangelosi’s face as Riley Avants holds his hair.
PHOTOS BY DAVID NORMAND
John Barker grills shrimp Saturday during the annual Denham Springs Spring Festival in the Antique Village.
Ace DuBois plays in a doorway during the Denham Springs Spring Festival. Sisters Hali Robertson, left, and Hannah Robertson shop along the Antique Village.
Nathan Landry, left, Callegan Landry and Cindy Gant share tastes of jambalaya and crawfish etouffee.
Seniors have long history with Doyle softball Tigers Walker sets National Day of Prayer gathering Thursday Pastors will gather at the Walker City Hall flagpole at 10 a.m. Thursday for a brief prayer as part of the National Day of Prayer. Residents are invited to the event at 13600 Aydell Lane, Walker.
Farmers market
includes Jakes Tacos, Big J’s Side Porch, Hebert’s, JayBrees Goodies and Swamp Daddy’s Kettle Corn.
Darlene Blue Ducky 5K Waddle Denstorff back for second year AROUND LIVINGSTON
The Four Seasons Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the city parking lot at Hummel Street and Railroad Avenue. Fresh vegetables, fruits and handmade items are on sale from vendors.
Food Truck Roundup set Denham Springs Food Truck Round Up is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3 on Mattie Street in the city’s Antique District. Lineup
The Blue Ducky 5K Waddle, held in remembrance of Stephany Nicolosi, is returning for a second year May 17 in Springfield. The Blue Ducky comes from Stephany’s love of the color blue and her love of rubber duckies. After her death, eight of Nicolosi’s were donated. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Chris Klug Foundation, a
ä See AROUND, page 2G
so its a tough road.” Last weekend, in the quarterfinals of the That conditioning was on display against LHSAA playoffs, the Doyle softball team Winnfield. Batting lead off, Taylor was the got another shot at Sterlington, the team spark plug belting out a double, a triple and it lost to in the 2024 Division III nonselect a home run in their first three at-bats. championship game. She had two more plate appearances Before that, the Tigers had earned one Charles with a chance to get a single and hit for the last chance to say goodbye to a talented, Salzer cycle, but reached base on an error and a productive group of seniors. SPORTS walk. Among them, outfielders Shelby Taylor ROUNDUP “Coming in, I was kind of sad because I and Alyson Fletcher, infielders Baley Mclin knew this would be the last home game for and Kassidy Rivero, and catcher Kylee Saall the seniors, but I really wanted to do my vant have ties that date back to Doyle’s 2018 best for everybody in our community,” Taylor said. Class 2A championship. All totaled, Doyle’s senior group was responsible In the last four years, Doyle’s class of 2025 for 10 of the Tigers 17 hits in the game. It helped helped the Tigers make two championship game them add a memorable night to a long list of acappearances in 2021 and 2024. In between were a pair of semifinal losses. complishments. “We set a goal after we walked away from the “This is probably the best way we could go out championship game last year, and we scheduled up with it being our last home game,” Rivero said. “Us this year,” Doyle coach Kyle Wieck said after last five seniors, we put in a lot of work this season and Thursday’s 17-4 regional round win over Winnfield it showed in this game. I’m so proud of what we at Johnny Sartwell Memorial Park. did.” “Everything we did in the regular season, beWieck was also proud of his team leaders after they responded to his pregame message. His final cause of the teams we’ve played, has conditioned us for the playoffs. This classification (Division III ä See SALZER, page 2G nonselect) has some of the best teams in the state