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
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W e d n e s d ay, J u n e 25, 2025
$1.00N
AHOY THERE, MATEY
Summer library events underway
West Feliciana
The West Feliciana Parish Library announced its 2025 Summer Reading Program, a twomonth community initiative to encourage reading and beat the “summer slump” — the seasonal loss of literacy gains that can happen when school is out. Running through July, the program invites readers of all ages to log their reading hours for a chance to earn prizes and be entered into grand prize drawings. The final day to log reading is July 31, with prize winners announced Aug. 7. The library will host free events designed for children, teens and adults. Information and registration can be found at www.wfplibrary.org/summer. Event highlights: n Children’s performances (ages 6-10) No registration required. All programs begin at 11 a.m. July 2: Wink Danenberg July 9: Crescent Circus July 16: The Noiseguy July 23: Harvey Rabbit & Friends July 30: Dinosaur Experience n Kids art workshops (ages 8-12) Registration required. All programs run 10 a.m. to noon. July 3: Georgia O’KeeffeInspired Art July 17: Clementine Hunter Flowers July 24: Watercolor Landscapes July 31: Blue Dog by George Rodrigue n Teen nights (ages 11-17) No registration required. Every Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. n Adult workshops (ages 16+) Registration required. All programs run 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 11: Painted Record Art Workshop July 25: Upcycled Magazine Bowl Workshop
East Feliciana East Feliciana Parish Library branches include Clinton, 11023 Bank St., (225) 683-8753; Jackson, Jackson Square Plaza, 2637 La. 10, (225) 634-7408; and Greensburg, 6108 La. 10, (225) 435-7135. July 11: The Louisiana Snake ID team will bring in nonpoisonous native and exotic snakes. Snake ID will share knowledge to help identify various types of snakes, highlight the good snakes do for the environment and alleviate the fear of snakes. There will also be time to hold a snake. 9:30 a.m., Greensburg; 12:30 p.m., Clinton; 3 p.m., Jackson. July 15: With two acoustic guitars and harmonies, The PopRocks performs kid-friendly classic pop-rock hits through comedic storytelling. It will feature songs by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elvis and Veggie Tales. 10 a.m., Jackson; noon, Clinton; 2 p.m., Greensburg. July 25: Dr. Magic’s Summer Fun Magic Show features magic, family friendly comedy, audience participation and prizes. There are no loud noises nor sharp objects. Live animals are used. 10 a.m., Jackson; noon, Clinton; 2 p.m., Greensburg. Tuesdays at 10 a.m.: Storytime at Audubon Regional Library, Clinton and St. Helena
ä See AROUND, page 2G
Enjoying herself at the COA outreach party, which had a pirate theme, is Judy Rideaux, of Jackson.
Pirates attend outreach party for East Feliciana Council on Aging
BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
The East Feliciana Parish Council on Aging hosted its annual outreach picnic and party June 13 at the Jackson site with a pirate theme and about 80 seniors in attendance. While both the Clinton and Jackson members enjoy seasonal celebrations and parties together, the summer gathering emphasizes recruitment. COA members are encouraged to bring a senior friend or family member to join in the fun and to learn about the various beneficial activities and services offered for them at the two sites. Live musical entertainment was provided by D.J. Desselle with some seniors, including pirates, dancing to the classic numbers from their past. The music ended with the audience joining in and singing the PHOTOS BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL last song, “Oh Happy Day.”
Costumed as pirates complete with hook and eyepatch, Rep. Roy Daryl Adams and assistant Faye Talbot attend the outreach picnic/party June 13 in Jackson.
ä See PARTY, page 2G
West Feliciana Parish School Board votes to give raises after hearing report BY JAMES MINTON
Contributing writer
Amid talk of a rosy financial picture for the coming school year, the West Feliciana Parish School Board approved a $1,200 per year pay raise for all employees. Last year, the board gave employees an $800 mid-year stipend that also will be part of the salary schedule for the new school year, meaning employees will get a $2,000 pay increase, Superintendent Hollis Milton said. Milton said he is confident the pay hike will fit in the board’s budget, particularly because sales tax revenues have increased recently and the fund balance at the June 30 end of the fiscal year will be about 20% of the district’s annual expenditures. The $1,200 increase will cost $620,000, or more with benefits and other personnel costs. Milton mentioned that the school system is pushing a “huge audit” of what one company owes the School Board in sales taxes. If the audit is favorable to the board, the tax payment could potentially pay for the salary increase for at least one year, he said. “With the $2,000 raise, we will be in the top three in the region,” Milton said. “Iberville and West Baton Rouge are ahead of us right now. With the raise, we will be third as I can best predict.” Construction is underway on the Hut 8 data center in the parish, and “our world is about to change tremendously,” the superintendent said at another point in the meeting. The state Legislature blocked local taxing authorities from collecting sales taxes from the construction of data centers and their computing equipment, but Parish President Kenny Havard has touted the potential local revenue from property taxes.
“With the $2,000 raise, we will be in the top three in the region. Iberville and West Baton Rouge are ahead of us right now. With the raise, we will be third as I can best predict.” HOLLIS MILTON, West Feliciana Parish schools superintendent
The School Board also hopes to see a sales tax boost from the construction of secondary projects that are not part of Hut 8’s center. Looking ahead, the board discussed a possible $980,000 to $1 million project to finish out the renovation of the old Julius Freyhan High School building. Construction on the first phase of the renovation project, largely financed with state appropriations, is wrapping up, and the board is making plans to move the central office staff into part of the building. Because construction costs were higher than anticipated, the first phase left about 70 percent of the ground floor undone. The staff also is working with the Julius Freyhan Foundation, which secured the state funds, to use portions of the threestory building for community events. In other action, the board: n Went over the district’s recent state rankings in several areas with Jodi Lemoine, director of accountability. The parish was first in the state for a new measurement of literacy amid a state push in that area. Lemoine said 78.9 percent of those tested were reading at or above grade level. Only one student in the third grade finished the year without being automatically eligible to advance to the fourth grade because of reading ability, and Lemoine said teachers are working
ä See RAISES, page 2G
PHOTO BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL
The road leading to the hangar at the Feliciana Airpark in Jackson and to the runway is on the right. Near the mailbox are tracks made by the construction equipment and vehicles that are being used for the resurfacing project.
Feliciana Airpark runway improvements progressing BY MELINDA RAWLS HOWELL Contributing writer
East Feliciana Parish Economic Development District Executive Committee members and others were updated on the construction/resurfacing of the runway at the airpark at its June 16 meeting. The airpark is at 5122 Airport Lane off of La. 68 on the southeast edge of Jackson. It sits on acreage near Dixon Correctional Institute. After some unexpected delays in getting the funding, the work began in May and the district was
notified that the first installment of funds were on the way, according to Jim Parker, president of the board. The construction project will make improvements with a total cost of $1.063 million, according to Matthew Peterson, board vice president. Funds were provided through a grant from the Department of Transportation and Development for Aviation. Peterson reported at the meeting that the “soil cement phase” of the runway has been completed. Within “the next week or two the
ä See RUNWAY, page 2G