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
Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Art show and ball planned Arts for All is holding A Beaux Arts Ball and Art Show on May 17-18 at Market Hall, St. Francisville. The ball is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., May 17. Music is by Konspiracy. Whimsical formal attire or costumes are encouraged. Refreshments provided. Entry is $20 for members. Nonmember entry is $40 and includes a membership. The art show is themed “There are Place I Remember.” Entry fee is $25. Fee waived for members. Deliver art work at 2 p.m. May 16. Saturday and Sunday, the show reception will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. An artist talk and People’s Choice Award will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. For information, contact Kelly Ward at (225) 721-2253 or kllwrd21@gmail.com.
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W e d n e s d ay, M ay 14, 2025
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Police Jury proposes tax realignment East Feliciana voters to decide Oct. 11
in November 2023 supports the parish Health Unit’s operations, but the proposition allows revenues from the tax above the Health Unit’s annual needs to be divided between the jury’s General Fund BY JAMES MINTON and Road and Bridge Fund. Contributing writer At one time, the surplus was diFacing a general fund shortage, vided 50-50 between the two funds, the East Feliciana Parish Police but, for some reason that current Jury voted May 5 to call an Oct. 11 jurors say they cannot explain, special election to change how rev- an earlier renewal proposition enue from a property tax already changed the split to 90% to roads and bridges and 10% to the general on the books is divided. Questions remain, however, as fund. This year, the Road and Bridge to how much the election will cost Fund has had enough money to opthe jury. A 3-mill tax renewed for 10 years erate in the black, while the gen-
eral fund is struggling to meet its obligations. Jurors have discussed, but not approved, cuts to the Council on Aging, LSU AgCenter and other agencies to finish the year without a General Fund deficit. If voters approve the proposition in October, the surplus could be used for any lawful purpose without a specific percentage going to either fund. “This is not a new tax,” jury President Louis Kent said several times during the discussion on the proposition, which is titled as an “in-lieu millage” and will replace the one approved in 2023.
In addition to selling the proposal to parish voters, jurors face an uncertain bill for holding the election this year because, at the present time, no statewide election is scheduled that would lower the jury’s share of election expenses. Jury Secretary-Treasurer Yamesha Harris said a letter from the jury’s bond and tax attorneys pegged the cost at $3,100, but some members of the audience disagreed. “I think you might have to add an extra zero,” said Tony Rouchon, a former School Board member who
ä See TAX, page 2G
HATS OFF TO GRADS!
Watch The Day the War Stopped The annual Day the War Stopped, a reenactment by Feliciana Lodge 31, is set for June 7. The lodge is at 4794 Prosperity St., St. Francisville. Visit https://felicianalodge31. com/day-the-war-stopped to see the schedule, which includes tours, a play and reenactments, jambalaya cookoff, vintage dancing and more. Call (225) 635-3688 or (225) 635-4224 for information.
Arts for All hosting classes Arts for All has some upcoming events: June 9-13 Art for Kids with Julia Bray, ages 7-12, 9 a.m.11 a.m., in the Arts For All Studio. $175 June 16-19 Handbuilding Clay 1 class with Lane Thompson for adults, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., AFA studio. $125 June 23-25 Handbuilding Clay 2 class (a continuation of first class), 6 p.m.-8 p.m., AFA studio. $125 Sign up for both clay classes for $200. June 26-27 & July 7 Clay for kids with Lynn Wood, 3 p.m.5 p.m. $150. ages 7-12 Send an email to birdmancoffee@gmail.com to register.
Students joyfully move their tassels from left to right during East Feliciana High School’s graduation on May 9.
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
East Feliciana High School’s Class of 2025 graduated May 9 at the school. For more photos, and a list of West Feliciana grads, see 3G
Seeking Feliciana artists for show The Feliciana Artist Group in conjunction with the Feliciana Wildflower Festival will hold the Largest Art Show in the Felicianas under one roof from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 in the Clinton United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of St. Helena Street and Old South Drive. Feliciana artists interested in showing can call Kathy Martin at (225) 245-1085.
Jackson branch library hosting plant sale The Jackson Branch of the Audubon Regional Library will have an Indoor Plant Swap from 1-3 p.m. May 23. The event will include a presentation by an LSU Master Gardener. Bring clipping, small plants or seeds to trade. Be sure to check online for other events, including movies
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Student Jalaysia Whitfield dances after receiving her diploma during East Feliciana High School’s graduation.
Valedictorian Samaya Williams gives a speech during East Feliciana High School’s graduation.
West Feliciana girls tie for first in Class 4A The girls Class 4A state track and field competition came down to the end with West Feliciana and The Willow School finishing as co-champions after each scored 51 points. The Willow School had a chance to pull ahead with two runners competing in the 3,200. The Lions got a win from Emma Aldana (11:12.42) to tie the team Charles score, but neither school Salzer had an entry in the 4x400, SPORTS the meet’s final event. ROUNDUP “It’s unbelievable,” said West Feliciana coach Hatem Bachar, whose team had only four competitors at the meet. “If you told me at the beginning of the day we were going to win state, it would have been difficult to believe. We had two athletes with 60 points. I would love to have had more
kids, but I couldn’t be more proud.” As she has done throughout her career, senior Tristen Harris set the pace for the Saints with wins in the long jump (19 feet, 6 inches), 100 (12.10) and 200 (24.78). A South Carolina signee, the wins brought Harris’ outdoor win total to nine. West Feliciana also got wins from Diamond Peck in the triple jump (37-6) and its 4x200 relay (1:42.43). Broadmoor’s Taylor Hankton was the key contributor for the Bucs’ girls, who tied for sixth with 36 points. Hankton won the 100 hurdles (14.23), the 300 hurdles (42.64) and pushed Harris in the 200 before finishing second. “I was third in the 300 hurdles last year,” said Hankton, a Southern signee. “I said to myself, ‘I’m going to make it back to state and I’m going to win,’ and that’s exactly what I did.”
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
West Feliciana’s Tristen Harris battles Broadmoor’s Taylor Hankton in the 100 meter finals at the LHSAA Class 4A track and field championships on May 10.