The St. Francisville Democrat 07-02-2025

James M. Norsworthy III

Longtime Jackson mayor remembered as devoted public servant

BY JAMES MINTON

Contributing writer

The town of Jackson’s longtime mayor, James M. “Jimmy” Norsworthy III, died at home Thursday after a battle with cancer “Jackson lost a highly respected friend, mayor and devoted public servant. Jimmy’s passing leaves an irreplaceable void,” Jackson Marshal Mitch Harrell said. Norsworthy, 75, was serving in his sixth term as mayor of the East Feliciana Parish community Following in the footsteps of his father, who also served as mayor, Norsworthy served four terms in office, from July 1980 through June 1996, then returned to the post in July 2020 and was a few days short of completing five additional years in office.

Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS

Get rid of old medicines

The East Feliciana Drug and Alcohol Awareness Council is holding a Prescription Take Back from 10 a.m to 2 p.m July 12 at RKM Primary Care, 11990 Jackson St. in Clinton Bring old over-the-counter and prescription drugs to dispose of them. A drop box is available. Healthfest coming RKM Primary Care is having a Feliciana Kids Healthfest from 10 a.m. to noon July 12 at 11990 Jackson St. in Clinton Water fun and inflatables, local vendors and resources, food treats and snacks, and health and wellness activities will be available. Visit www.rkmcare. org/events.

Vacation Bible school

Jackson United Methodist Church will have vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon July 14-18. Children ages 4-12 are invited to “Road Trip” on the go with God at 1727 Sycamore St.

DEMOCRAT

ST. FRANCISVILLE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Mayor’s budget cuts money for police car

BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer

The St. Francisville Board of Aldermen approved a new budget June 24 that Mayor Andy D’Aquilla said he had trimmed to eliminate possible deficit spending.

D’Aquilla said the original general fund budget he proposed for the fiscal year beginning July 1 projected expenditures would eclipse revenues by $189,000. But the revised budget now projects a surplus of

$5,116.

The budget for the year ending June 30 is expected to show $273,863 more in expenditures than in revenues. The figures distributed at the meeting do not include how much of a balance the general fund has to cover that deficit.

D’Aquilla said during a public hearing that his new budget now includes slightly more anticipated revenues from property taxes and insurance premium taxes. He also said he took out a proposed expense of $75,000 for a new police car, hoping that the department could go for a year without needing a replacement vehicle. The budget expects revenues in the general fund of slightly more than $2.472 million and expenses totaling a

MINING KNOWLEDGE

MELINDA

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

As sheriff of East Feliciana Parish, Jeff Travis sometimes gets complaints about unidentified drones.

“Oftentimes, these drones come over and you never know who it was or what it was,” he said. “That’s a problem — that’s a big problem.”

That’s why Travis praised a new state law, championed by Gov Jeff Landry, that gives local and state law enforcement the power to take down drones.

“The governor was right. He’s right about the fact that we need to be able to do something about it,” Travis said. House Bill 261, now Act 170, was sponsored by state Rep. Jay Gallé, R-Mandeville. Gallé chairs the House Select Committee on Homeland Security Act 170, also called the “We Will Act” Act, allows “a law enforcement officer or agency” to “take reasonable and necessary mitigation measures against a threat posed by an unmanned aircraft system operating within this state in a nefarious manner.”

Such action could include detection, tracking and identification methods, or it could involve “the interception or disabling of an unmanned aircraft system through legal and safe methods, including but not limited to jamming, hacking, or physical capture,” the act says.

The new law also bans drones from being flown over parades, unless they are being used for film production. Violating that rule would carry a fine of between $2,000 and $5,000, or a prison sentence of up to one year

Gallé said the parade rule was added to the law out of concerns that parades could be targeted for mass casualty events. In Louisiana, it was already illegal to fly a drone over a correctional facility or the Governor’s Mansion. Nor may drones be used to surveil facilities without a facility owner’s written permission, according to Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:337. According to the FAA’s website, drones are prohibited from flying over national landmarks, certain military bases and certain critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants. Drones also are not allowed in the controlled airspace around an airport.

Concerns about drones

Gallé said the law aims to protect Louisianans from possible threats posed by drones. “From an all-around

efficient.

sives.

are shown watching the

GEMS

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In the video, they were shown the mining box, which came from Brazil, that they would be using to discover the concealed gems in the Brazilian mining ore. The instructions of how to “wash, sift and clean” were given. They were told four rules for gem mining, which ended with the rule to find and keep the gems. Then the children and their families lined up near the back door of the library to enter the mobile gem mining facility.

Mining staff members John and Angela Wren gave instructions. Walking in single file, children entered the trailer where two flumes with flowing water were set up on either side. Individual mining boxes awaited each child. The gem mining commenced As the children found gems they were able to put them in plastic bags. Back in the library, the kids

AROUND

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4-H day camp set for Slaughter

Sorting and identifying their gems are, from left front, Hudson Woodard, of Ethel, and Sofia Lee and mom Jennifer On the right are Harper and Masyn Walock, of Jackson.

admired their treasures and referred to the brochures and charts provided to classify and identify their stones.

For information about the upcoming programs, contact the library branches or go to

The East Feliciana Summer Day Camp is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m July 18 at Redwood Baptist Church, 5182 La. 412, in Slaughter. Activities include yoga, cooking, nutrition, outdoor adventures, arts and crafts STEM, gardening and line dancing. Registration is open and costs $52 a camper This include lunch and a T-shirt. Register at tinyurl.com/3a7zje4t or email Kayla Banta at kbanta@agcenter lsu.edu. Call (225) 683-3101.

Safe child care class deadline nears

To register for the two-day Safe Sitter

the library’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/audubonregional.

For information about Diamond Del’s Mobile Gem Mining, which operates in seven states, visit diamonddel.com.

course, visit www.wfph.org/resources/ events-and-classes/. The fee is $55. It is designed to prepare students in grades six through eight to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting. Payment and registration forms will need to be completed and turned in by July 8 for the July 16-17 course.

Summer library events underway

The West Feliciana Parish Library 2025 Summer Reading Program, runs through July Readers of all ages can log reading hours for a chance to earn prizes. 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

DRONE

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into critical infrastructure and cause great damage, cause power outages,” said Gallé. “Those are the things that we’re really trying to guard against.”

The state representative also said Louisiana prisons have had problems with drones being used to drop contraband behind prison walls.

To date, the Department of Public Safety & Corrections has encountered 51 “drone incidents” at its state-run facilities, according to a statement from Derek Ellis, deputy corrections secretary

Those incidents include some cases involving contraband but also encompass all other sightings of nondepartmental drones at state prisons, he said.

“The We Will Act law gives the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections’ staff a way to neutralize, intercept or disable drones through any legal and safe methods, including but not limited to jamming, hacking or physical capture to prevent illegal or harmful activity, such as individuals attempting to drop contraband into prisons,” Ellis said.

Drone sightings at Entergy’s River Bend Station nuclear power plant early this year marked another driving force behind the new law, Gallé said.

Officials at the time did not identify the drones as a public safety threat.

But they’ve also never gotten a clear answer as to where those drones came from, according to Gallé and Sheriff Brian Spillman, of West Feliciana Parish.

Those sightings prompted Landry in January to say the state ought to have a way to mitigate drones. At the time, he said he’d been asking the Federal Aviation Administration to grant Louisiana that authority

Now, Louisiana’s new law puts the state “on the front lines of drone defense,” Landry said in a statement.

It is unclear how Louisiana’s law will interact with federal rules and regulations Generally, under federal law, it is illegal to damage, destroy, disable or wreck any aircraft.

The Advocate | The Times-Picayune asked the FAA whether it accepted Louisiana’s new law

“The FAA is a safety regulator not a security agency,” a spokesperson said in response. “Our role is to ensure drones operate safely within the broader National Airspace System. Congress gave certain federal agencies authority to counter credible threats from drones.”

How would drones be intercepted?

Law enforcement has so far been mum on how their agencies would take down drones if the need arose.

Gallé said the preferred method would be by electronic means.

“In some instances, you can intercept the drone, take over the controls

MAYOR

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During the 1990s, Norsworthy was also chief criminal deputy for the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office. He was a former high school agriculture teacher and operated a dairy farm.

Harrell, who was one of Norsworthy’s high school students and served under him on the Jackson Board of Trustees, said a wake is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Jackson United Methodist Church, with visitation again from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday preceding the funeral service. He is survived by his wife, Debbie,

found at www.wfplibrary.org/summer East Feliciana library events East Feliciana Parish Library branches include Clinton, 11023 Bank St., (225) 6838753; Jackson, Jackson Square Plaza, 2637 La. 10, (225) 634-7408; and Greensburg, 6108 La. 10, (225) 435-7135.

n 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.

n July 15: With two acoustic guitars and harmonies, The PopRocks performs kid-friendly classic pop-rock hits through

DEMOCRAT

and then remove it from the area and land it safely,” he said “That’s the primary way that law enforcement wants to do it.”

Louisiana State Police are prepared to counter drones being operated unlawfully, according to a statement from Capt. Russell Graham.

The agency would not provide details on how it would intercept a drone because it “does not divulge investigative methods, law enforcement tactics, or technological capabilities for safety and security purposes.”

But Graham emphasized “that all counter-drone activity would be done safely and lawfully.” The department would not be shooting drones out of the sky, he said.

The Department of Public Safety & Corrections said it had “several staff members who are trained and certified as drone pilots for detection and counteraction purposes.”

Spillman, the West Feliciana Parish sheriff, said he had discussed a drone take-down method internally but was not ready to divulge it publicly

“We would take the necessary steps, I’ll just leave it at that. And those necessary steps would include at all times that we were not putting anybody else in jeopardy,” he said.

Joe Gebbia Sr., founder and CEO of State Shield, a national nonprofit that supports state-level laws to protect against possible interference from China, called the bill “historic.”

“It’s the first time that a state passed legislation giving itself the right to do what it needs to do to protect its people,” he said.

Gebbia plans to lobby other states to pass similar legislation next year, he added.

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@theadvocate.

two children and other relatives.

“He’s definitely been a pillar of this community for a very long time,” said Town Clerk Annissa Woodard, who said “nobody was above or beneath him” in his dealings with the public.

“We lost someone that this town will never be able to replace,” Woodard said, adding “there wasn’t a lot about this town that he didn’t know.”

As a seasoned businessman, Norsworthy brought invaluable expertise to the town’s government and “was a man of unwavering honor unshakable loyalty and profound affection for others,” Harrell said.

James McCrory, the town’s mayor pro tem, will lead the town government until a special election is held for mayor

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.

n 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.

n Tuesdays at 10 a.m.: Storytime at Audubon Regional Library Clinton and St. Helena branches. This will include a mix of themed stories, songs and rhymes, and a craft at the end. All ages are welcome. Send news and events for East and West Feliciana parishes to extra@theadvocate. com by noon Friday or call (225) 3880731.

Bains Lower Elementary students take part in garden-enhanced nutrition education

Community news report

Each year, pre-K and kindergarten students at Bains Lower Elementary participate in garden-enhanced nutrition education.

Monthly, the children work with Play 60 coach Lanya Mayer and LSU AgCenter Area Nutrition and Community Health agent Layne Langley during their Play 60 physical education time to learn about nutrition and care for 10 raised garden beds.

The year began with the children spotting their broccoli and bok choy in the garden.

In January, the pre-K children learned the importance of being physically active and listened to the OrganWise Guys book “Taking a Healthy Fitness Break Kindergartners learned about whole grains, how to spot them and why they are important to eat The children participated in the Great Grain Obstacle which included: Popcorn Hop, Bread Basket, Spaghetti Stretches, Rice Run, Cracker Crunch and Cereal Circles.

In February, the pre-K children learned about taking care of their hearts and listened to the OrganWise Guys book “All Hearts Need Love.”

The kindergartners discovered the Protein Food Group. A protein relay race had them identify if their food card was from a plant or animal protein source

Several classes planted lettuce. Langley split the pre-K and kindergarten classes in March and April because of the Easter break. The children learned about the importance of the Dairy Food Group. The pre-K children heard the OrganWise Guys “Bone Bank Savings” book while the kindergartners listened to “Kiss the Cow,” a book Langley likes to include in the dairy lesson.

The children participated in a garden color scavenger hunt, where they found and drew items in the garden that matched certain colors.

May was harvesting time for the carrots. All the pre-K and kindergarten classes harvested carrots from the garden.

Mayer washed and prepped the carrots. The carrots were cut into shapes, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, and brown sugar before being cooked in the air fryer

Every child sampled the carrot fries with many returning for seconds and thirds and then voted if they liked the carrot fries or if they didn’t care for them. Also in May, several cucumbers were harvested and sampled. For information about nutrition programs in West Feliciana Parish contact Langley at (225) 635-3614 or at lalangley@agcenter.lsu.edu.