DENHAM SPRINGS • LIVINGSTON • WALKER • WATSON • AMITE • HAMMOND
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W e d n e s d ay, Au g u s t 13, 2025
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LIVINGSTON PARISH LIBRARY BOARD
Robertson named interim director, former board leaders reinstated BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Library Board President Jonathan Davis speaks during the library board meeting at Livingston Parish Main Branch Library on July 18.
Darlene Denstorff AROUND LIVINGSTON
The Livingston Parish library board appointed an interim director and reinstated former board leadership during a well-attended meeting Friday night. Ten members of the library board were at the meeting, including four who walked out of a previous meeting when former li-
brary director Michelle Parrish’s contract was not renewed. Parish President Randy Delatte rounded out the ten using his ex officio status. Not only was it a packed board, but it was a packed house with over 60 residents in attendance. The library board unanimously voted to appoint Kyla Robertson Webb as the interim director. Webb has been with the library
system for four years and currently serves as the head of community engagement. Webb said she was honored to be appointed and looks forward to continuing to serve the community. She will serve in the role until a permanent director is found. Delatte made a motion to reinstate the former leadership, which
ä See LIBRARY, page 3G
FIRST-DAY JITTERS
Hear the State of the Parish address The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce will host the annual State of the Parish address by Parish President Randy Delatte. The event is at noon Aug. 27 at Forrest Grove. Registration and networking will start at 11:30 a.m.
Book clubs at the library If you need a new book for your summer reading list, check out selections for August. All branches of the Livingston Parish Library book club host monthly book clubs for adults, and each club features a different “Book of the Month.” For information on a particular book club, call the branch. Upcoming book club meetings include: Box of Chocolates Book Club: 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, Denham Springs-Walker Branch. August selection: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. This debut novel is an exploration of friendship, reckoning and hope, following
ä See AROUND, page 3G
Charles Salzer SPORTS ROUNDUP
Live Oak faces same teams, just different sites from 2024 It won’t quite be a do-over, but the Live Oak football team will get another shot at the schedule it played last season. From the season opener when the Eagles host St. Paul’s of Covington to the finale against Dutchtown, Live Oak’s ninegame slate is set up with the same teams in the same order as last year. The only change are the venues as the homeand-away playing sites flip. “For us, its just about executing at opportune times,” Live Oak coach Randall Legette said. “Against good football teams we need to execute when it matters the most. We have to find ways to close games and that’s what we’ve been gearing towards here in the offseason.” Last season, including an opening round loss to Southside in the Division I nonselect playoffs, Live Oak went 3-7.
ä See SALZER, page 2G
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Principal Justin Wax gives out high-fives to students as they walk onto campus during the first day of school at Denham Springs Junior High on Friday. Wax was recently named principal of the year by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Spend the day with Louisiana’s 2026 principal of the year BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer
Like many students, Justin Wax struggles to fall asleep the night before the first day of school. Similarly to students worried about their first day outfit or navigating the route to a new class, there are nerves, the junior high principal said. But if you were at Denham Springs Junior High School at 7:30 a.m. Friday, you wouldn’t be able to tell. Wax with teachers Laci Lemoine, his first hire, and Kasie Guarisco, his most recent hire, energetically welcomed in uniformed students as songs such as “Celebration” and “Everything is Awesome” played in the background. The junior high principal pointed out directions to new students and caught up with returning students. “I’m liking the new hair,” Wax told Derrick, an eighthgrader, outside the car dropoff line. Wax’s interactions with Livingston Parish pupils and their families are a direct reflection of the hardware he won at the end of July: 2026 Louisiana Principal of the Year.
Wax said it’s critical that school leaders have a vision and a clear brand for their schools. This is something he also carries into employee recruitment. While struggles hiring teachers are experienced nationwide and at a local parish level, the principal hopes to recruit candidates who are excited and align with the school’s goals: joy, legacy and pride. If the employees genuinely love kids, everything else comes naturally, Wax said. Wax and the staff have been working based on a “Three Justin Wax explains how he hopes the giant yellow jacket Years of Awesome” plan. The painted in the redesign of the gym intimidates visiting plan focuses on making sure basketball teams at Denham Springs Junior High. teaching doesn’t just happen inside a classroom and finding It’s his fifth year as princi- trinkets he says remind him to ways to support the students, whether it’s through a simple pal of the Livingston Parish keep his priorities right. A purple crayon reminds high five or supporting their school with over 800 students. The junior high school has him to never grow up too ideas for a new student initiareceived state and national much, a stone reminds him to tive. recognition under Wax, in- maintain a stable foundation, cluding designation as a 2024 and a compass reminds him to A new school year Top Gains Honoree and being follow the path despite what Wax was not expecting to go on the U.S. News & World Re- may happen. into the new school year with Getting the school to state a new award to his name. port’s Best Middle School list. and national recognition and “I was extremely surprised. The road to success increasing morale took years Genuinely surprised,” he said On Wax’s desk, the state- of work, he said. It involved of the principal of the year wide trophy he recently re- intention and high expectaä See PRINCIPAL, page 2G ceived is joined by a few small tions.