ABITA SPRINGS • BARKER’S CORNER • BUSH • COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • PEARL RIVER • SLIDELL
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S T TA M M A N Y FA R M E R.N E T
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W e d n e s d ay, J u ly 30, 2025
151ST YEAR, NO. 42
50¢N
Forum gives voters look at where candidates differ BY BOB WARREN
ELECTION 2025
Staff writer
SLIDELL MAYOR
The two candidates for Slidell mayor squared off publicly on July 23 before a packed audience at a Chamber of Commerce forum, mostly sticking to familiar campaign themes but taking the gloves off over one issue. The closest Bill Borchert and Randy Fandal came to sparring during the 45-minute event was when moderator Trey Berning asked about police retirement funding.
Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert
The question stems from a testy Slidell City Council meeting in May, when the council adopted a $65 million annual city budget and an ordinance in which the city would put up more police retirement funding. Police Department employees contribute 10% of their salaries into their retirement systems. The ordinance
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW DOBBINS
ä See VOTERS, page 3A Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal
MANDEVILLE
Council holds line on city budget BY KIM CHATELAIN Contributing writer
The Mandeville City Council has agreed to keep municipal property taxes collected for general maintenance and operations of the city and its police department unchanged for 2025. Before voting on the tax issue during their July 24 meeting, council members acknowledged that changes are needed to the city’s budgeting structure to avoid having to raise taxes or reduce services in the future. Under an amended ordinance offered by
ä See COUNCIL, page 2A
Editor’s note: There was such a positive response to our “Where Are They Now?” stories last year that we brought the series back to the pages of the St. Tammany Farmer this summer. We asked that question about some of the best athletes in local sports and then we went out and found them. This week, we feature Covington baseball coach and CHS Football Hall of Famer Johnny Dragg.
PHOTO BY MATT DOBBINS
Longtime instructor Darrel Brown leads the group through its dances by laughing and encouraging all the way.
WOMEN IN LACOMBE PUT THE SOUL INTO LINE DANCING
BY SUZIE HUNT
Contributing writer Cha-cha right. Cha-cha left. Step up, step back and turn and turn ... On a recent Wednesday night this summer, more than 30 women and girls danced, laughed and learned those moves during a soul line dancing class at the Lacombe Recreation Center. Held weekly, the classes are a combination of exercise and fellowship, with a side serving of fun. Infectious music started bodies instinctively moving. Next came the encouraging instructions from leader Darrel Brown. Dressed in patterned tights and a bejeweled T-shirt with “Lady Smooth” spelled out in bling on
“Dancing is great for morale, and it’s great exercise. We have a wonderful time.” DARREL BROWN, dance instructor
the back, Brown was energy personified as she directed dancers with her words and motions and the music she controlled. “Dancing is great for morale, and it’s great exercise. We have a wonderful time,” said Brown, who led the dance classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for years. With the program’s popularity, Brown’s class outgrew the church space and moved to the recreation center a little more
From dugout to bleachers at Covington High
than a year ago. On this night in Lacombe, the dancers included women of all ages. Quite a few sported salt-and-pepper hair; one dancer even used her cane to facilitate turns, but most appeared to be anywhere from 20 to 40. Some were first-timers in the weekly dance session, while others have danced together for decades. Jamie Cousin was participating with daughter Jordan Laurent and her young cousin, Lyrik Pitts. “My mother, Lou Hunt, and my aunt, Denise Younger, started the soul line dancing group at St. Genevieve before Katrina. My family, my kids and nieces, have been going
BY DARREN COOPER Contributing writer
Johnny Dragg has traded seats from the front of the Covington High School dugout to the front row of the bleachers to watch his Lions. Dragg, now 74, was the Lions baseball coach from 1984 to 2006, winning over 300 games and five district titles. He was also an assistant football coach at the school and is a member of the Covington Football Hall of Fame after making All-District three times as wide receiver from 1967-69 and playing at USM. He’s still in the same Covington home with his wife, Barbara, that he’s had since 1984, and when Dragg goes to watch Covington baseball games, it’s a family reunion. His son Jeff is now the Lions baseball coach.
ä See SOUL, page 2A
ä See DRAGG, page 4A
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