The St. Tammany Farmer 08-20-2025

Budgeting for Mandeville’s future subject of debate

BY KIM CHATELAIN AND BOB WARREN Staff writers

The long and arduous process to determine how the Mandeville government plans to spend public money during the upcoming fiscal year reached a crescendo Aug. 14 with a chorus of opposition chiming in.

The City Council approved separate ordinances for capital and operational spending during a marathon meeting that featured questions about the city’s future financial health. Much of the debate centered around Mayor Clay Madden’s approximately $29 million operating budget for 2025-2026. While they acknowledge that the spending plan is “balanced,” critics say the city’s operational expenses are outpacing revenues.

Slidell asks what should replace the North Shore Square Mall?

City hopes to purchase site, put back into commerce

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

BY ANDREW CANULETTE Staff writer

Law enforcement officers usually are on the lookout for the “bad guys,” just as firefighters remain on

BY KADEE KRIEGER Contributing writer

Three St. Tammany entrepreneurs this month edged out more than 70 applicants to claim spots in The Launchpad, a “Shark Tank”-style competition where they pitched the potential of their growing businesses to investors from across the region.

The Launchpad competition, held Aug. 6 at the North Star Theater and Cultural Center in Mandeville, earned each of the three finalists both funding and exposure.

A group of 75 or so people gathered Aug. 13 in Slidell lured in by a simple question: What should go in the spot where the beleaguered North Shore Square Mall now sits? Think big, one of the discussion moderators, Keith Espadron of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation, told the group. “If you could dream your dream.” The answers were all over the place A film production facility. A trade school or college campus. An entertainment district. “Indoor sports. It’s hot outside,” one person said.

“Laser tag — that’s fun,” said a teenage girl. “Or go-karts. Stuff like that.”

“Our goal is to make a place where dreamers can succeed and we can shine a light on great minds. We envision a place where entrepreneurs have a place to plug in and become a core part of St. Tammany’s economic development.”

CHRIS

MASINGILL, CEO of St.Tammany Economic Development Corporation

WSPR, a panic button and sensor technology company won the competition, along with $3,000.

Runners-up Alexco Media, an AI-generated film company, and Whatgradewillitget.com, which analyzes sports trading cards, received $1,000 each.

The Launchpad pitch competition is part of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation’s three-year pilot program called STartUP Northshore, a mentorship and training network that offers those starting businesses the opportunity to learn from others as they go, get help with challenges and find resources for success in St. Tammany

PITCH, page 3A

MANDEVILLE

Continued from page 1A

The opponents pushed for immediate budget cuts and urged the council to take a “fiscally responsible” approach to spending rather than continuing to “kick the can down the road.” Glen Runyon, a Mandeville resident who has studied the budget and is a frequent commenter at council meetings, said he and others have been trying to raise the council’s awareness of the long-range outlook of the

city’s general fund, which covers the cost of much of the city government’s routine work. He was among several speakers at the meeting who urged council members to recognize that revenues can’t keep up with the rapidly rising city expenses, including salaries and benefits for employees.

Denis Bechac, a former member of the Mandeville City Council, lauded Runyon’s efforts to promote sound fiscal policy and said it’s past time to stop the depletion of the city’s reserve funds. “Critical to this effort is

the balancing of recurring revenues with recurring expenses,” Bechac said. “As proposed by the mayor, this budget does not do this. It’s up to our council to amend the budget and cut expenses this year to help mitigate the operational budget’s shortfall.”

At-large Councilman Scott Discon suggested the city government cannot keep “looking away” from the shortfall. “I don’t see any effort by the mayor or the administration to solve this issue,” Discon said.

Councilman Kevin Vogelt-

RIVALS

Continued from page 1A

Aug. 16 featured various first-responder agencies in a round-robin tournament.

The competition is friendly, but make no mistake, these teams play to win, of course!

At the same time, in Slidell, novice tennis players from St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 and the Slidell Police Department, were smacking winners at the Henry J. Calamari Memorial Tennis

Center in Olde

It was the first year for this event and by all accounts, a smashing success, said tournament directors Kim and Henry P. Calamari.

For anyone keeping score, the Slidell-area firefighters won the tennis tournament and the team from St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 12 (Covington area) won the softball tournament. For more information on Miracle League Northshore, go online to www miracleleaguenorthshore. com or check out their social media pages.

anz offered several amendments that would have trimmed expenses from the budget, including eliminating about $90,000 to fill a clerical position and reducing pay raises for city employees from 2.5% to 1%.

All were voted down by the council.

Council member at Large Jason Zuckerman said the budget critics are focused on the general fund, but that several other city funds have fund balances totaling more than $80 million.

Cuts to operating and capital expenses this year would, in essence, add to the

fund balance, which would amount to “stuffing more money into the mattress,” he said.

He acknowledged that recurring general fund revenue is falling short of general fund expenditures, but that the issue should be solved through a reallocation of sales tax revenue while simultaneously cutting taxes.

“There is no fiscal crisis,” Zuckerman said.

The council ultimately passed Madden’s operating budget proposal by a 4-1 vote, with Discon casting the lone dissenting vote. The

council voted unanimously on the mayor’s capital budget for the upcoming fiscal year Earlier in the meeting, the council approved the creation of a committee to investigate ways to solve the shortfall issue.

The meeting, which lasted more than four hours, ended with Madden thanking the council for what he called a fruitful budgeting process that included numerous public hearings and the exchange of useful ideas. However, he took a stab at some critics for trying to “sabotage” the process.

Joseph

jhalm@sttammanyfarmer.net

Don’t forget the adults, another woman said. “They would love to have soft music, dinner and dancing.”

“A Great Wolf Lodge. They have a humongous indoor water park,” said yet another woman, prompting at least one person in the audience to nod appreciatively and say under her breath, “I could totally go for some time at a humongous water park.”

Other ideas were throwaways.

“I guess we could make the world’s largest Bucee’s,” one man said, drawing laughs and applause

“Make it a 54-acre organic farm,” another man said, adding, “That was a joke.”

The gathering at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium was part of a study commissioned by the city of Slidell and the St. Tammany Economic Development Corp. to determine the best way to put the 54-acre mall site back into commerce. The consultant, Colliers, expects to report some of its findings later in the fall.

While the session might have seemed to some like an academic exercise, it came a day after Slidell City Council members, acting in their capacity as officers of the Northshore Square Economic Development District, authorized Mayor Bill Borchert to enter into a letter of intent to purchase the mall from Morguard, the Canadian company that owns it.

Council members also approved a 1% sales tax on purchases made at stores inside the district and a 2% hotel occupancy tax in the district. The taxes run through September 2075.

The 621,000-square-foot

mall opened at the highprofile location on Northshore Boulevard just off Interstate 12 in 1985 and quickly became a regional shopping hub. But it now has only two open stores: the popular Dillard’s clearance center and At Home, a chain that recently filed for bankruptcy Borchert said the city and Morguard have negotiated a price, $13 million, but that more due diligence lies ahead before a purchase agreement can be formalized. The Dillard’s store and a storage facility on the mall site have different owners, so the city will also have to negotiate with them, officials said.

For years, Slidell officials have lamented the state of the mall, watching as store after store closed and as the mall’s interior was eventually locked up tight. Earlier this year, the city contracted with Colliers to help it determine the best use for the mall.

Even without the results from the study, Chris Masingill, who heads of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corp., said the only way the city can be sure to have control of any redevelopment is to own the site.

“It’s fundamentally the right strategy,” Masingill said. “They literally have the chance to take control of their own economic development future.”

From the start of the Aug. 13 idea session, it was clear that residents on hand still mourn the mall. A common theme: The mall gave people something to do, and without it, there’s a void.

“It’s been depressing to watch the mall become what it’s become,” said Casey Smith, who remembers hanging out at the mall in its heyday

“Maybe we just need an old-fashioned game room for Gen Xers,” she added.

“Like in the ’90s.”

Ryan Wilkes was more direct. “The thing that stands out is there’s nothing to do here,” he said, adding his voice to those seeking some type of entertainment venue.

But while the ideas flowed freely, a few in the crowd wondered if the city is moving too quickly

Rick Franzo, a Slidell resident and president of the Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany group, asked if the city essentially agreeing on the purchase before the consultant’s study is done is “putting the cart before the horse.”

“What are we actually buying?” Franzo asked, noting that the city would take on a lot of debt to make a purchase.

Pressed by the moderators to keep on the topic of alternative uses, Franzo did say he thinks a small retirement community might be a good fit for the site.

City officials say the money for any purchase would come from bonds backed by the revenue from the Northshore Square Economic Development District taxes. The state Bond Commission would have to approve the issuance of any bonds, Borchert said.

City officials say they want something at the site that will create jobs and drive economic development. One thing seems certain: The city doesn’t plan to reopen it as a shopping mall.

“The city will not be in the retail business,” Borchert said. “I can promise you that.”

And that will come as bad news to at least one person at the brainstorming session.

“I’m all for the mall staying the mall,” she told the consultants. “Don’t you know I love to shop?”

PITCH

Continued from page 1A

The goal of The Launchpad was to provide northshore early-stage entrepreneurs a platform to take their companies to the next level, but also to offer support and resources so their success will stay in St. Tammany, said Chris Masingill, CEO of St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation.

“We believe in the dreamers, the visionaries, those looking to start here and grow and invest in our community,” Masingill told the theater filled with other earlystage entrepreneurs, economic development corporation members, business investors and community members. “Our goal is to make a place where dreamers can succeed and we can shine a light on great minds. We envision a place where entrepreneurs have a place to plug in and become a core part of St. Tammany’s economic development.” Mandeville resident Christopher Andry, whose WSPER company took top honors provides badges equipped with panic buttons and other alarm-system technology that bypasses local systems that can stop working in an emergency situation when power and internet are down

During his pitch, he described how his system can transform the panic alert systems in both schools and office buildings.

“Our badges can go in sensitive areas that cameras can’t go,” he told the judges. Andry said WSPER builds wearable and stationary panic button devices with realtime location sharing and video integration designed to keep people safe in schools, retail and health care environments.

“Winning this competition is a big step for us as we expand in Louisiana and nationally,” he said. “It’s hard getting our name out so our story gets told. Being a

Federal money funding project to address water problems in western St. Tammany

BY KIM CHATELAIN

Contributing writer

A$5.4 million federally funded project to filter manganese and iron from the drinking water of about 10,000 residential and commercial customers in western St. Tammany Parish is underway

If the project proceeds as planned, by early next year parish water system customers in areas along La. 1085 and Bootlegger Road near Madisonville should see a significant reduction in the discolored water that at times comes from their taps, parish officials said on Aug. 13.

However, before the work is done, the customers may see instances of water discoloration as contractors involved in the project begin to reroute water lines in the area.

Discolored water caused by iron and manganese has been a problem for several publicly and privately operated water systems in St. Tammany That’s because all systems are groundwater sourced, and manganese and iron oc-

cur in groundwater and are often found in well water

Officials in Madisonville, which has its own municipal water system, are also grappling with the water discoloration issue A consulting engineering firm has been hired by the town to find affordable solutions.

While not considered a health hazard in small amounts, the two metals can stain sinks and damage plumbing. In fact, manganese in very small amounts plays a vital role in several bodily functions, including bone formation, wound healing and the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids.

Nonetheless, residents throughout the parish have complained that the discolored well water is undesirable to use in the home and carries a bitter metallic taste.

The just over $5 million parish project is the last of three funded by the federal government to consolidate and improve the Bedico and Faubourg Coquille water systems into a single large water system.

The other two projects —

each costing about $1 million involved water line extensions to connect the two systems. Both smaller jobs have been completed, said Michael Vinsanau, the parish government’s director of public information.

The ongoing project involves the construction of a pretreatment facility to filter out iron and manganese from the well water using conventional greensand filters. The project will also replace and upgrade all mechanical and electrical equipment at the well site, including new pumps, control panels, piping, valves and generator he said.

Parish President Mike Cooper said the pretreatment facility should significantly reduce the occurrence of water discoloration along the La. 1085 corridor

“When I campaigned for parish president, I promised to upgrade our water systems to continue to provide safe drinking water,” Cooper said. “With this investment, our citizens’ quality of life has been improved and that commitment has been renewed.”

part of this event truly helps get the story out there of what we are doing and how we can help in emergencies.”

The $3000 prize will go toward upgrading internal computer networks, he said.

Finalist Alexander Cotant told judges that his film company Alexco can revitalize the Louisiana filmmaking industry using AI tools for everything from backgrounds to full-scale movies. He said his company aims to help local filmmakers and the entire studio system in the state.

Tulane University junior Chance Kittrell launched his company, whatgradewillitget.com, in response to the need for a system to evaluate and estimate the value of sports cards before sellers send them off to be officially graded. He told judges that the website has already accrued 350 account subscribers since the company launched in June.

Masingill said that whether an idea starts in a classroom or on the back of a cocktail napkin, the early stages of growth are critical to turning that idea into a successful company He spoke to all early-stage business founders who gathered to watch the competition, encouraging them, “stay on the northshore and in Louisiana!”

St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Startup Northshore Program Manager Cenzo Caronna moderated the evening, which included a mini-workshop on what investors look for held by business executive Mike Eckert, chairman of the investing group, the Gulf South Angels. Eckert served as one of the judges for the pitch competition along with local investor John Roberts and Rick Mekdessie, director of Founder Institute Louisiana. In choosing the winning pitch, Caronna said the judges based their decision on the overall business concept, the business model, target market, traction, team and impact on the northshore community.

FILE PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN

Need for organ donors in state is staggering

BY KADEE KRIEGER

Contributing writer

When Folsom resident Warren Whittington, 51, received a diabetes diagnosis at age 20, he never imagined that 17 years later, he’d be a transplant patient receiving a kidney and pancreas from an organ donor

“I thought I’d just manage the diabetes with insulin, but instead, there had already been so much damage to my kidneys that it led to chronic kidney disease, and I landed on dialysis,” he said “Everyone is closer than they think to knowing someone who needs a transplant There is one person that you know outside of your immediate family who could need an organ transplant.”

Wittington said within his own family, three people have been organ donor recipients.

Whittington, who is Black, works closely with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency and speaks passionately about the need for organ donation and raising awareness, especially within the Black and non-Hispanic communities.

As the organ procurement organization for Louisiana, LOPA seeks to save lives, restore health and enhance medical care through organ and tissue donation Throughout August, the organization is highlighting the need for organ donation in multiethnic communities by sharing stories from transplant recipients as part of National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month.

“There is often fear embedded in minority communities; people are afraid to donate because they don’t understand,” Whittington said. “But you don’t take your organs with you when you leave this life. I’ve been listed as an organ donor since age 18 and a blood donor since age 16. Because why not give somebody extra life or a better quality of life?” There are currently 1,874 Louisiana residents waiting for kidney, pancreas, heart or liver transplants. More than 65% of those waiting are of the African American/non-Hispanic ethnicity, according to statistics from LOPA as of July 28. This gap is even higher than the national average of 60%, said LOPA President

and CEO Brett Gordon.

“Multiethnic communities, specifically within Louisiana’s Black population, have disproportionately higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease — all of which contribute to organ failure, especially kidney failure,” Gordon said.

“National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month is an opportunity to not only highlight the need, but also to empower our multiethnic communities to take part in the lifesaving gift of donation.”

LOPA says that organs are not matched according to race or ethnicity, but that all patients waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one if there are larger numbers of donors from their ethnic background. Compatible blood types and tissue markers, which are critical qualities for matching, are more likely to be found among members of the same ethnicity

LOPA Community Educator Shainne Williams said the organization not only shares the need for residents to register as organ donors, but also provides education on healthy living to reduce the risk of needing transplants.

Overall, multiethnic access to transplants is improving. In 2024, nearly half of all organ transplants in the country were performed on multiethnic recipients, and more than 35% of all Louisiana donors were “heroes of color,” she said.

But Gordon said the need for organs in every ethnic category remains staggeringly high.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 13 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant.

“Organ donation is both a precious gift and a limited resource,” Gordon said.

“LOPA is committed to maximizing every gift of donation to save and heal as many lives as possible.

Ultimately, we need more people to say ‘yes ‘to donation. We encourage everyone to register as an organ, tissue and eye donor and for those who are able, to consider becoming a living donor.”

National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month is a collaborative initiative of the National Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation Multicultural Action Group. For information, visit www.lopa.org.

Police emphasize sober driving through Labor Day weekend

Staff report

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office will join other law enforcement agencies in a coordinated effort to reduce impaired driving fatalities during the upcoming Labor Day weekend, the department said in a release on Aug. 13.

As part of the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs through Sept. 1, additional deputies will be assigned to patrol efforts to target impaired drivers.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is a high-visibility enforcement campaign funded through a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

“We want people to know that we are out there, not just during holiday weekends, but every day looking for drivers that are under the influence, and we hope these extra patrols will serve as a deterrent to drinking and driving. If you choose to consume alcohol, don’t drive,” Sheriff Randy Smith said Remember that driving under the influence of illegal narcotics can also lead to a DWI arrest. In fact, some legal medications can impair your ability to drive. Always read warning labels and instructions on prescription and over-the-counter medications.

“We need our community to understand that it’s up to them to make the smart decision to drive sober over the Labor Day holiday, and every day,” Smith said. “This isn’t about a ticketing campaign. This is about getting the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives.”

Kayak launch near Mandeville will accommodate wheelchairs

A $20,000 grant awarded to the Louisiana Office of State Parks will be used to buy a new accessible kayak launch and dock at Fontainebleau State Park.

The dock and EZ Launch, designed to accommodate users with limited mobility, will be installed on Bayou Castine on the west side of Fontainebleau State Park, giving kayakers access to Lake Pontchartrain.

The launch will include a transfer bench with two heights for easy transfer from wheelchairs of varying sizes and two transfer slide boards to accommodate differing watercraft heights.

The America’s State Parks program awards grants for projects that enhance public access to outdoor recreation aimed at developing introductory access programs across state parks. Fontainebleau State Park is a 2,800-acre

park southeast of Mandeville on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Park grounds include brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville, founder of the nearby town of Mandeville An old railroad track running through the park was converted into the Tammany Trace as part of the Rails to Trails program. Overnight options include tent and RV sites, cabins and group camps. Reserve a stay at a Louisiana state park on the Go Outdoors Louisiana website and follow Louisiana State Parks on Facebook Parish tax roll open for inspection through Aug. 29

The St. Tammany Parish tax roll remains open for official public inspection through Friday, Aug. 29, giving property owners additional time to review their assessments, verify exemptions and confirm mailing addresses before the legally designated inspection period begins.

The tax roll also is available for viewing online at www.STPAO.org

Property owners are encouraged to act early by examining assessments as soon as possible and, if necessary, filing for an assessment review

If a property owner disagrees with their 2025 assessment, they may file an Application for Assessment Review with the Assessor’s Office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Aug 29. The application can be submitted online at www.STPAO.org/forms. Forms also are available for download from the website and in paper format at both Assessor’s Office locations. Completed forms may be submitted online, in person or by mail to the Covington office. To help ensure timely processing, property owners are strongly encouraged to file as early as possible. Submissions received near the end of the inspection period may experience delayed review determinations because of high volume. If disagreement remains after receiving a review determination from the Assessor’s Office, the property owner may file an appeal to the Board of Review with the St. Tammany Parish Council. The deadline to file such an appeal is Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. State law requires that an assessment review must be filed with the Assessor’s Office before an appeal can be submitted to the Board of Review Once the inspection period ends, all changes must be referred to the Louisiana Tax Commission. That process may take up to eight weeks.

Assessor’s Office locations are at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center, 701 N. Columbia St., Covington, phone (985) 809-8180; and at the Towers Building, 520 Old Spanish Trail, Suite 2F, in Slidell, phone (985) 646-1990. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Slidell office is closed for lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, email AssessorReview@STPAO.org or go online to www STPAO.org.

Federal money for water problems in western St. Tammany

BY KIM CHATELAIN

Contributing writer

A $5.4 million federally funded project to filter manganese and iron from the drinking water of about 10,000 residential and commercial customers in western St. Tammany Parish is underway

If the project proceeds as planned, by early next year parish water system customers in areas along La. 1085 and Bootlegger Road near Madisonville should see a significant reduction in the discolored water that at times comes from their taps, parish officials said on Aug. 13.

However, before the work is done, the customers may see instances of water discoloration as contractors involved in the project begin to reroute water lines in the area.

Discolored water caused by iron and manganese has been a problem for several publicly and privately operated water systems in St Tammany That’s because all systems are groundwater sourced, and manganese and iron occur in groundwater and are often found in well water

Officials in Madisonville, which has its own municipal water system, are also grappling with the water discoloration issue A consulting engineering firm has been hired by the town to find affordable solutions

While not considered a health hazard in small amounts, the two metals can stain sinks and damage plumbing. In fact, manganese in very small amounts plays a vital role in several bodily functions, including bone formation,

wound healing and the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids.

Nonetheless, residents throughout the parish have complained that the discolored well water is undesirable to use in the home and carries a bitter metallic taste.

The just over $5 million parish project is the last of three funded by the federal government to consolidate and improve the Bedico and Faubourg Coquille water systems into a single large water system

The other two projects each costing about $1 million involved water line extensions to connect the two systems. Both smaller jobs have been completed, said Michael Vinsanau, the parish government’s director of public information.

The ongoing project involves the construction of a pretreatment facility to filter out iron and manganese from the well water using conventional greensand filters. The project will also replace and upgrade all mechanical and electrical equipment at the well site, including new pumps, control panels, piping, valves and generator he said Parish President Mike Cooper said the pretreatment facility should significantly reduce the occurrence of water discoloration along the La. 1085 corridor

“When I campaigned for parish president, I promised to upgrade our water systems to continue to provide safe drinking water,” Cooper said. “With this investment, our citizens’ quality of life has been improved and that commitment has been renewed.”

PROVIDED PHOTO

In a display of patriotism and community spirit, VFW Post 8720 in Abita Springs recently partnered with Cub Scout Pack 109 to host a flag retirement ceremony. Scouts got a hands-on lesson in respect, tradition and the importance of national symbols when VFW members guided them through the proper way to fold and retire the American flag. The ceremony also exemplified the unique bond between generations and included, from left, MJ Pettilleri, Mason Fodor Jackson Larkin, Joel Leblanc Emmy Larkin, Evie Larkin, Scarlett Lawson and Luna Lawson; back row, Matt Booth, Mike Peats, Joann Larkin and Paul Hamburger

25 years ago

The Abita Springs Board of Aldermen decided Tuesday night to not spray the entire town for mosquitoes. The board last month voted to have the town sprayed in response to complaints from residents in the Southwind subdivision. Mayor Bryan Gowland contacted the Mosquito Control District after last month’s meeting to have the town sprayed on Aug. 16. But residents from other parts of Abita Springs said Tuesday they were against a townwide spraying.

Former alderwoman Olga Neely led the charge, saying that the entire town hasn’t been sprayed before and questioning the chemicals used in the spraying. Neely claimed that an organo-phosphate spray would be used and that is unsafe. No one on the board knew the chemical content of the spray except that it was named “Scourge.”

Neely claimed that it was a scientific fact that an organophosphate spray won’t eliminate mosquitoes and that the insects will build up a tolerance to it. She also said it would kill other insects which aren’t harmful.

The board ultimately decided to spray Southwind and not the rest of the town.

50 years ago

The site of the new Covington high school may be annexed into the Covington city limits if the School Board has its wishes.

The board asked last week that the Covington City Council extend its boundaries to take in the new school. The advantages of having the new school within the city are numerous, it was said, especially in the maintenance of water and sewer-

age lines which have already been installed by the school board. Although the city of Covington has not yet been officially contacted, the annexation of the new Covington high school site seems to be forthcoming.

The City Council met in a special session Tuesday night and informally voiced its approval of the proposed annexation. Once annexed, it is expected that Covington police will help direct both vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the school crossing on U.S. 190. The state highway department may want to put up a traffic signal.

75 years ago

State Rep.Erwin Rausch indicated in a public statement this week that St. Tammany Parish roads will be greatly improved should the highway bond issue be voted this fall.

Rep. Rausch also indicated that several of the parish’s most widely traveled gravel roads will be blacktopped and that others are in “an advance stage of planning.”

His complete statement is as follows:

“This subject of blacktop-

ping our main traveled parish gravel roads has high priority with me. Being fully aware of parish financial problems, as I naturally am as your representative, I know the constant drain on the parish of blacktopping gravel roads, especially in this age of fast auto and truck traffic. I also know the discomfort and annoyance to our good citizens who live on or near these gravel roads. The blacktopping of many of the main gravel road, such as the Folsom-Bush Road, has already been decided upon and many other blacktopping projects are in what may be called an “advanced stage of planning.”

If the highway bond issue goes through this fall, and I feel sure that it will, St Tammany will have funds for the upkeep of these roads, the scope of which would have never seen possible just a few years ago.”

100 years ago

The appearance on the street and the rapid and remarkable improvement of the popular livery stable man, Eugene Esquinance whose

leg was broken some six weeks ago, will be learned with pleasure. We congratulate the young surgeon, Dr E.S Kyes, for restoring to the public service a man well-known all over St. Tammany, having served the public faithfully for nearly 20 years.

125 years ago

Star Light Baptist Church of Slidell Before me, and sworn, within and for the parish of St. Tammany, state of Louisiana, Oscar L. Dittmar a notary public, duly commissioned in the presence of the witnesses hereinafter named and undersigned, personally came and appeared the several persons whose names are here into subscribed and who declared that availing themselves of the laws of the state of Louisiana for the creation of corporations or religious and charitable purposes, they do hereby covenant and bind themselves to a body, corporate in law under the following articles terms and conditions: The name and

Meeting at the market, a slice of St. Tammany life

BY MARGARET ALBERT

Contributing writer

Patrons who visited a farmers market last week likely didn’t realize they were taking part in National Market Week, a celebration that calls attention to the bonds built between a community and its growers, suppliers and artisans in these markets, as well as with the economic impact that comes with the small businesses.

Katie Gausco, chief marketing officer of Visit the Northshore, puts it this way:

“Each market is an invitation to visitors and residents to taste the region’s flavors, meet the people behind the products, and experience the community’s culture in its most authentic form.”

St. Tammany is fortunate to have several markets to choose from:

The Paddock Farmers Market at The Giddy Up Folsom

n 82292 La. 25 in Folsom

n Saturdays, 9 a.m. to

1 p.m.

n Live music, local produce, prepared food, local art, handcrafted goods

n (985) 705-1091; gufolsommarket@gmail.com.

Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market

n 22049 Main St. in Abita Springs

n Sundays, 10 a.m. to

2 p.m.

n Art, food, live music

n https://www.townofabitasprings.com; (985) 8920711.

Covington Farmers Market

n 609 North Columbia St

n Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

n Wednesdays 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St

n Local produce, dairy products, meat, poultry, seafood prepared international foods, bakery items, candy and plants

n https://covingtonfarmersmarket.net; (985) 956-3715. Mandeville Trailhead Community Market

n 675 Lafitte Street, Man-

deville

n Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n Produce, eggs, honey fresh cut flowers, plants, foods, arts and crafts; splash pad for the kids n https://www.c ityofmandeville.com; (985) 6243147.

Camellia City Market

n 2055 Second St., Slidell City Hall Complex parking garage, breezeway and courtyard across from Slidell Auditorium n 8 a.m. to noon; rain or

shine

n Produce, bakery items, seafood, juices, meat, eggs, plants, prepared food, coffee and concessions

n cameliacitymarket5@ gmail.com; (985) 640-7112.

Pearl River Farmers Market and Craft Show

n 39437 La. 41 Spur, Pearl River

n First Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

n Produce and artisan crafts n (504) 621-6237.

Staff report

Safe Harbor Northshore has announced that its Real Superheroes of Safe Harbor Gala will take place Sept 20 at The Harbor Center near Slidell. This will be Safe Harbor’s 13th fundraising gala, and the 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. event will significantly underwrite Safe Harbor’s domestic violence shelter and its campaign to educate and prevent domestic abuse.

Stars of the evening will be nonprofit’s 10 nominated Superheroes, a group of men and women who work to increase awareness of Safe Harbor’s mission by engaging in a friendly but real, competition.

The Real Superhero candidate who raises the most money for the agency will be “caped” and named

2025’s Real Superhero of Safe Harbor at the end of the gala. Donated dollars equal votes.

“We hope the Real Superheroes Gala and campaign will bring light to the life-saving services offered by Safe Harbor While most people don’t want to think about it, domestic violence affects our community on a daily basis,” said Meredith Mendez, president of Safe Harbor Board of Directors and gala chair “It will take all of us working together to end domestic violence.”

Safe Harbor provides free, confidential services to survivors of domestic, family, and dating violence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, said Safe Harbor Executive Director Kim Kirby

“Domestic violence is a crime that shatters lives, destroys fami-

lies and devastates communities,” Kirby said.

This year’s Superhero nominees are:

n Michael J Cochran: Attorney and former NOPD officer and detective, U.S. Marine and Iraq War veteran, and a felony prosecutor in the 22nd Judicial District

n Jason Cuccia: St. Tammany and Washington parishes’ veteran prosecutor for the 22nd Judicial District and team leader at First Baptist Church of Covington

n Jonée Daigle-Ferrand: Owner of JBL Publishing, Inside New Orleans Magazine, The Sanctuary Living Magazine, TerraBella Living Magazine and, coming soon, Beautiful BC Living Magazine.

n Bill Gallagher: Northshore High School principal, St. Tammany Par-

ish’s 2023-2024 Principal of the Year and co-founder of nonprofit Addie’s Angels

n Luke Lancaster: 22nd Judicial District Assistant District Attorney and board member of the 22nd JDC Bar Association

n Gregory Langham: CPA at Malcolm M. Dienes, LLC, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, member of the board of directors for the Covington Notary Club, and co-chair of the Feeding the Needy Committee

n Lindsey Olsen: Family law attorney, partner of Talley, Anthony, Hughes & Knight, LLC, and member of the Junior League of Greater Covington

n Tracey Powell: Board certified family law attorney, Fire District No. 1 board member (Slidell area) and St. Tammany Parish hearing of-

ficer/magistrate for Code Enforcement

n Grant Simon: Senior partner of Simon & Simon Financial, retirement specialist, Aviva Elite Agent Award winner and frequent guest lecturer for local bar associations. n Tammy M Nick: Attorney for more than 25 years on the northshore and president of the Greater Slidell Bar Association, with a history of working on behalf of

Anyone

Community theaters have something for all

BY MARGARET ALBERT

Contributing writer

The start of school signals the opening of the community’s cultural season, and St. Tammany Parish is no exception.

Some local theaters have offered summer workshops for budding young thespians while holding auditions for the first show of the upcoming season

This cultural year promises to be a varied one for residents of St. Tammany Parish. Audiences can expect everything from comic strip stories to musical marvels, daring drama and silly satire.

Check out the lineups below; there is something for everyone. But be sure to check each theater’s website or Facebook page closer to opening night to make certain there are no schedule changes.

Cutting Edge Theater

“Annie,” running through Aug. 24

“Chicken and Biscuits,” Sept. 12-27

“Forever Plaid,” Oct. 17-26

“Freaky Friday,” Oct. 31

“Finley Watkins Tribute Show,” Nov. 21-22

“Tuna Christmas,” December dates and 2026 productions TBA n 767 Robert Blvd.; (985) 6493727; www.cuttingedgetheater.com n Tickets available www.eventbrite com

Slidell Little Theatre

“Wizard of Oz,” Aug. 22- Sept. 7

“Steel Magnolias,” Oct. 10-19

“Annie,” Dec. 5-21

“Sweeney Todd,” Jan. 15-25 & Feb

8, 2026

“A Raisin in the Sun,” March 6-15, 2026

“Shrek The Musical,” April 17 May 3, 2026 n 2024 Nellie Drive; Tickets: www. slidelllittletheatre.org (985) 6430556

Playmakers Theater

“Don’t Dress for Dinner,” Sept. 6-21

“’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Nov. 29- Dec. 14

“Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” Feb 28-March 15, 2026

“Chapter Two,” May 2-17, 2026

“Gilligan’s Island,” July 11-26, 2026 n 19106 Playmakers Road; Tickets: www.playmakersinc.com (985) 263-0055

PHOTO

Are you ready to rock during the final weekend of ‘School of Rock’ at 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville, featuring composerentertainer and LSU adviser Hayden Kimball as the loud, loveable, music-obsessed Dewey Finn.

30 by Ninety Theatre

“School of Rock,” running through Aug. 24

“Tuesdays with Morrie,” Sept. 12-21

“Broadway Singing Competition Season 6,” Sept. 7

“The Miss Firecracker Contest,” Oct. 11-26

“A Very Merry Christmas Spectacular,” Dec. 8-14

“Cabaret,” Jan. 17-Feb 1, 2026

“The Nerd,” March 14-29, 2026

“The Laramie Project,” April 13May 3, 2026

“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” June 13-28, 2026

n 880 Lafayette St, Mandeville, (844) 843-3090, www.30byninety. com.

Slidell feels the spirit of White Linen & Lagniappe

For three hours on Aug. 9, Olde Towne Slidell dressed itself for summer and gave art center stage in its annual celebration of White Linen and Lagniappe. It was a night in which restaurants, businesses and outdoor vendors hosted artists and displayed their work for the visitors who poured into Olde Towne. Musicians played from street corners, on porches and inside venues, while participating vendors and businesses displayed a host of handcrafted art and summer sales. Fine art was also exhibited in office spaces, while chefs and mixologists offered up their special summer creations throughout the primary White Linen venue bounded by Front, Robert and Second streets and Fremaux Avenue.

MUSIC

POWER: Singer-songwritermusician Mia Borders, with special guest Laureen Murphy, brings her charisma and talent to the North Star Theatre stage in Mandeville on Aug. 23. Borders is best known for her powerful vocals, dynamic performance energy and the connection she makes with audiences of all sizes. Mixing all of that with her versatility, Borders continues pushing the boundaries of her art. All tickets are reserved, so pick a seat. General admission

$27.50, plus fees and taxes. VIP tickets, $65, plus fees and taxes, also comes with snacks, drinks and a meet and greet with the artist. Get them at northstartheatre.org. Doors open 5:45 p.m. at the 347 Girod St. theater; music starts at 7 p.m.

DIVERSE: The Cara Van Thorn group performs Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge the Harbor Center’s intimate listening room near Slidell. The group creates the atmosphere of a late-night jazz club, a burlesque parlor, a speakeasy or a Tim Burton movie — depending on the piece being performed. Founded by Donkey Island alums Adam Donovan and Carrie Stephens Advance tickets only; Eventbrite.com seats, $22 plus fees. The “Up Close and Musical” series features nationally touring acts performing acoustic or lightly amplified music monthly in the Bohemian-style, smokefree, 124-seat venue.

IRISH: The next traditional Irish session on Aug. 21 (third Thursday) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room of Abita Brew Pub, 72011 Holly St. Musicians and musiclovers play, sing and listen to favorite pieces of Celtic music. Visit nstms.org for details and link to music.

PERFORM: Open Mic Night on Aug. 26 (final Tuesday) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cilantro’s Mexican Cuisine, 321 N. Columbia St., Covington. Musicians of all ages and abilities can perform before a supportive audience. Each performer/ ensemble gets a set of three songs, or about 15 minutes Arrive early to get a spot.

ON STAGE

YELLOW: Come and follow Dorothy from Kansas along the famed yellow brick road in the classic story, “The Wizard of Oz,” showing Aug. 22 through Sept. 7 at Slidell

Little Theatre. Based on the book by L. Frank Baum and the resulting motion picture, as adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this is a full-length stage version, complete with music that includes “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Multiple shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. over three long weekends at 2024 Nellie Drive. See the website for tickets at slidelllttletheatre.org/tickets.

COMEDY: Standup comedian Tom Briscoe brings his latest solo show, “Old Mansplaining,” to the Fuhrmann Auditorium on Aug. 21 in Covington. His ship travels have carried him to more than 100 countries, and his stories explain why only 86 of them will let him back in. Hear him rant about bad jobs, a good marriage, travel mishaps, raising daughters, empty nesting, doctors, ungracefully aging,

unsolicited advice and living each day as a cautionary tale. He only promises “no politics” and “no cringe,” so Briscoe is suitable for all audiences. Tickets $20 at bontempstix.com or in Covington City Hall.

JOKES & TUNES: An evening of comedy and special music on Aug. 23 in the Knights of Columbus 2732 Hall, 1578 W. Hall Ave., in Slidell. Laugh with Michael Strecker and Kendra St. Pierre and enjoy the music of Bobby Ohler to benefit children and families in need. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Tickets $35 at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/.

ANNIE: Continuing at the Cutting Edge Theater is “Annie, the Musical” for one final weekend (through Aug. 24). Watch Annie search for her parents; plot against the cruel orphanage matron; and enjoy the hijinks that Annie and her fellow orphans get up to. See her ultimately find a new home and family in billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, his personal secretary, and a great dog. Annie is played on alternate nights by Addison Ross, 10, and Caroline Pizza, 11. Evening and matinee performances at 767 Robert Blvd. in Slidell. Tickets at Eventbrite or save online fees by texting orders to (985) 288-2833.

ROCK OUT: The 30 By Ninety Theater presents “School of Rock, the Musical” for a final weekend (through Aug. 24) in Mandeville. Based on the movie by Mike White, the book by Julian Fellowes, lyrics by Glenn Slater and the music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Directed by Joy Bosley and produced in collaboration with the School of Rock Northshore, the show features a large cast of young rockers and actors ready to make some noise. Follow failed wannabe rock star Dewey Finn pose as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school, turning a class of straight-A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. Tickets for adults, $35; seniors and military $32; students 13+, $30; and kids 12 and under, $27. Aug. 22-24. Shows at 8 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Go to 30byninety.com.

ART PLEIN AIR: A collection of impressionistic paintings by Peg Usner, the 2025 Scenic Rivers Art Exhibition poster winner, on display through October 2025, every Thursday through Sunday, from noon until 4 p.m., at Far Horizons Art Gallery, 82286 La. 25, in Folsom. The exhibition showcases her distinctive

perspective and ability to capture the natural world of south Louisiana and the Deep South.

DUFOUR: An exhibit of paintings, blown and sculptured glass by artist Paulo Dufour will hang through Aug. 29 at the Atrium Gallery in the Christwood retirement complex at 100 Christwood Blvd. near Covington (reach it via Brewster Road). No admission is charged. The gallery is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays

COMMUNITY GUMBO

GENERATIONS: A group of young musicians will entertain Avanti Senior Living Community residents in Covington on Aug. 23 in a 1:30 p.m. meeting of the generations. In this “Musical Tributes from Youths to Golden Agers,” six winners (ages 9 to 15) of state and national music competitions will perform for residents at the 2234 Water Cross Parkway center. Organized by musician-singerteacher Cuilan Li, the event will include five instruments, song in five languages and a dance; performers include Audrey Carra, Ronald Zheng, Jeanna Chen, Mason Wu, Neva Liu and Audriana Li. The public is also invited, said event spokeswoman Tina Soong.

HOOPS: It’s time again for The Hoops, a 3X3 basketball tournament for boys and girls in grades four through 12, a program of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro New Orleans. Young players can register on Aug. 23 at the Rev. Peter

Football scrimmages kickoff today

Joseph Halm

As of 5:30 p.m this afternoon, football will officially be back in St Tammany Parish. It’s a glorious time of year that begins the week in and week out grind that is a high school football season. Although the games this week and next don’t count in the record book, they are extremely important for each team

All of those long, hot summer training sessions have led to this point where teams

finally get to put on the pads and hit for the first time. Most of these scrimmages will be extremely scripted, but we’ll get a chance to see if all of those things we believed to be true in the summer translate to the regular season. Last week, we looked at some of the intrigu-

ing storylines in District 6-5A and District 7-5A, so now we’ll examine District 7-4A and District 9-2A in this issue. Next week, the annual St. Tammany Farmer football tab will provide a season preview for every team in the parish, with feature stories, projected starters, analysis, predictions and much more. Until then, take some time to appreciate the work these young men have put in thus far And bring a lot of water when you head out to a game this week because the only thing as hot as the competition will be the temperatures.

Contact Joseph Halm at jhalm@

ST. TAMMANY SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20

BROTHER MARTIN AT COVINGTON: 5:30 p.m.

CURTIS AT ST. PAUL’S: 5:30 p.m.

HANNAN AT NORTHSHORE: 5:30 p.m.

RIVERDALE AT SALMEN: 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 21

DUTCHTOWN AT FONTAINEBLEAU: 6 p.m.

PARKVIEW BAPTIST AT LAKESHORE: 6 p.m.

SLIDELL AT WALKER: 6 p.m.

BELLE CHASSE AT PEARL RIVER: 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 22

NORTHLAKE CHRISTIAN AT NORTH IBERVILLE: 5:30 p.m.

JESUIT AT MANDEVILLE: 6 p.m.

ALBANY AT PJP II: 7 p.m.

Storylines to watch in 2025 season

Franklinton quarterback Jacob Crain scores against Cecilia in the Division II nonselect football state championship at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans last year

State runner-up Franklinton returns with QB Crain leading this year’s effort

Last week, we looked at District 6-5A and District 7-5A, so now, we’ll examine some intriguing storylines from our remaining football districts — District 7-4A and District 9-2A.

Below is a quick overview of District 7-4A, which includes Franklinton, Hannan, Lakeshore, Loranger and Pearl River.

Franklinton

Of all the teams in this district only two return their quarterbacks from last season, and Demons return a very good player from a state runner-up team in senior Jacob Crain, who threw for over 2,400 yards with 24 TDs and just four interceptions. He’s a difference-maker. But the Demons have to figure out who will replace their nowgraduated 2,000-yard-plus rusher Sy Austin. That’s probably the biggest question as Franklinton looks to return to the Superdome. The committee of senior Rayden Rayborn, sophomore Steven Tate and, even, junior playmaker Jayden Burkhalter will be asked to fill that position Defensively the question is who will replace District 7-4A Defensive MVP and middle linebacker DJ Anders? While both of those are big losses, coach Nick Salta-

formaggio has raised the expectations in Franklinton, and Demons are in a good position to find answers to both.

Lakeshore

The Titans get Franklinton at home this year after losing to them twice on the road last season by a combined eight points. One of those losses was by a 41-40 slugfest during a frigid quarterfinal game at Franklinton. To say the Titans have revenge on their minds would be an understatement, but first, they have to improve as a football team. Lakeshore returns its entire backfield with seniors Dylan Cusachs, Oudrey Gros and Shawn Brown. That’s a good sign for a team that runs a variation of the Wing-T That unit should be dominant again this year, but the biggest storyline is how will junior quarterback Brody Loudermilk (511, 180) mature as a passer? He has some experience already in the offense, so as long as he continues to improve his throwing ability, the Titans could be pretty special.

The next biggest storyline is health as has been the case last few years; although I do

District champion Northlake Christian has talent for deep run

Football scrimmages kick off this week starting Wednesday

Last week, we looked at District 6-5A and District 7-5A, so now, we’ll examine some intriguing storylines from our remaining football districts — District 7-4A and District 9-2A. Below is a quick overview of District 9-2A, which includes Independence, Northlake Christian, Pope John Paul II, St. Helena and St. Thomas Aquinas. Northlake Christian

The undefeated defending district champions are looking to build on their recent success. The Wolverines have won playoff games in two of the last three seasons, but in 2025, they want to make a deep run. They have the skill players to do that with seniors Kameron Casnave, Jordan Willis and Charlie Gilmore back in the fold and playing both ways. The quarterback battle will be interesting to watch between St. Stanislaus transfer Sam Grant (6-3, 200) and Hannan transfer Braden Shultz, both seniors. Both are solid options, but coach James Willis wants to put his best players in the best positions to succeed, so that may mean Grant plays tight end or safety Either way, it’s a storyline to watch on a team that is full of talent. But the roster numbers overall are down a bit, so health is the other key Pope John Paul II

The Jaguars have made steady improvement under fifth-year coach Philip Pigott, and the results have shown up on the field. PJP II won an opening round playoff game last year, and they want to build on that momentum. They had all of that success without standout running back Dominik Smith, who went down in Week 2 with a season-ending knee injury Smith is back, and he looks good, but the question is can he stay healthy? And will he be the workhorse that PJP II needs him to be? If the answer is yes, the Jaguars are in business. PJP II is also breaking in a new quarterback in junior Austin Franzo, so Smith’s presence takes on additional importance. Despite graduating several impact starters, the Jaguars seemingly have the pieces to keep marching forward.

St. Helena

Last season, the Hawks lost one-score games to Northlake and PJP II, so it’s clear that St. Helena can hang with the top half of the district. Now, former West Jefferson head coach DeCarlos Holmes takes over for Chris Gordon. He is one of three new coaches in this district. St. Helena might be the most talented team in the district, but how quickly they jell under a new coach will determine if this talented roster can make a run.

Independence

The Tigers finished out the 2024 season with six straight losses. In fact, the offense managed just to score double-digit points in just four games. Longtime Loranger coach Sam Messina has returned to his alma mater to become the head football coach and athletic director That’s a big boost to a Tigers’ program that has some talent, but how quickly Messina can install his system will determine how quickly the team can rebound.

St. Thomas Aquinas

The Falcons also struggled last season, managing just one win — a 14-8 victory over Independence. STA has fallen on hard times the past two seasons, but

Alum Inman takes ‘dream job’ at Mandeville

BY MIKE PERVEL

Contributing writer

Mandeville has a new crosscountry and track coach, and he’s no stranger to the program.

for the past two seasons.

Inman

Howie Inman, 40, takes over for Anthony Pequeno, who stepped down from the head coaching spot after 10 seasons. Pequeno decided to give up the head coaching position so that he could spend more quality time with his two young children, but he remains as Inman’s assistant. Inman, a 2003 Mandeville grad and former cross-country and track athlete, coached at Rummel

“I’m from a long family line of educators, teachers, counselors and coaches. From an early age, I was intrigued with running cross-country and track, hoping to one day become a coach. My goal and dream has always been to become a head coach at Mandeville High and win state championships. It’s a match made in heaven, and it’s a tremendous opportunity to have this dream come true,” Inman said.

“It’s going to be a fun tenure with Coach Anthony as my assistant. We’re very good friends and respect each other, having similar

coaching philosophies It’s been a very smooth transition for our talented athletes.”

In high school, Inman transferred to Mandeville as a junior after moving to Louisiana from Gainesville, Fla.

“Transferring, I chose to attend MHS mainly because of its program success led by coaches Bob “Woody” Woodworth and then Gerald Singer,” Inman said. “I was an assistant coach in 2004 and 2005, then became a full-time assistant working with the illustrious coach Singer in 2008-2009.”

Prior to his time at Rummel, he coached nine seasons at John Curtis, serving as the Patriots’ girls cross-country head coach for two seasons He was also the head as-

sistant in track for boys and girls.

Inman, who operates Jefferson Indoor Sports in Harahan, said heading into this season, he was planning to remain at Rummel, but fate stepped in.

“There was only one school that I would leave Rummel for, and it was my Mandeville alma mater I’m an extremely proud alum,” he said.

Pequeno, who teaches at Mandeville Junior High, had a tremendously successful 10-year run, guiding the Skippers to 14 district championships, three state runnerup finishes in girls cross-country, while also coaching five individual track state champions and three track relay state champions. Pequeno decided it was a perfect

time to step down with two kids under 6 and a third due in December

“It was the right time and perfect situation for me to take a step back, making time for my kids. Giving up the head coaching job gives me more flexibility based on my kids’ upcoming sports schedules. Everything has worked out perfectly for Coach Inman. I respect him, and our friendship continues to grow, which benefits our Mandeville student-athletes, moving forward,” Pequeno said.

“I’m excited to have Coach Howie on board. Being an MHS alum, I believe he was destined to coach the Skippers one day I knew him as a volunteer at MHS a few years back, and I tried to get him as an assistant, but it didn’t work out.”

St. Scholastica unveils upgraded track, new turf

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

St. Scholastica runner Elaine Oggs looked around with a smile on her face.

The 800-meter runner had practiced at the SSA Athletic Complex for many years, but as a senior, she glanced around at the new turf and the 8-lane track and just took it all in.

“This is going to be a lot better,” Oggs said. “The track is such an improvement, and the turf will be so much nicer for soccer Rain always affected practice, so now everyone can be here rain or shine.”

St. Scholastica celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated Athletic Complex on Aug 12. Phase 1 updates feature a relocated soccer field with state-ofthe-art artificial turf, a new competition track, upgraded field event stations (including areas for long jump, high jump, shot put, and discus) and a modern scoreboard.

“We are thrilled to open this facility, which will serve not only our students but the wider SSA community,” said St. Scholastica Head of School Sheri H. Gillio. “This complex is more than an upgrade — it’s an investment in the future of SSA athletics and the student experience.”

The new SSA Athletic Complex will be home to the Doves’ soccer and track teams, while also provid-

ing opportunities for PE classes, student recreation and community events.

While it was a homecoming for Oggs the track program practiced at Covington last season during construction — senior goalkeeper Libba Daniel said the soccer team can’t wait to get on the new turf, which is located across from their former grass field home.

“It’s amazing,” Daniel said.

“Having the turf and being able to be here every day is great. Before, if it was raining, we might not be able to practice, or we’d have to go

to the gym, or we’d have to go to St Paul’s and share the field with them It’s nice to have our own space as a team to practice and bond. It’s awesome.”

Former SSA athletic director

Art Lyons, who

was part of the push

in

and said it was a dream come true. “It’s beautiful what they’ve done,”

the

Record set at the 49th Madisonville Gar Rodeo

BY JOSEPH HALM Staff writer

The 49th annual Madisonville Gar Rodeo was held at the Lake Road boat launch in Madisonville on Aug. 1-2. And it was a record-breaking day for the team of Scott Watts, Abram Martinez, Bryson Martinez and Austin Palmer, who hauled in a 195.6-pound catch in the adult jug division to set a new rodeo record.

Rodeo organizer Casey Revere said the event continues to grow, as there were 372 total registrations across all divisions.

In the adult jug division, the team of Watts, Abram Martinez, Bryson Martinez and Palmer won first-place with an alligator gar weighing 195.6 pounds They also took second with a 143.5-pound catch, while Hunter Wheat finished third (138.9 pounds).

In the kids jug 4- to 9-year-old division, Tatum Pocorobba was first with an 86.1-pound catch. Carter Strunc finished second (66.8 pounds), and Cason Strunc was third (61.3 pounds).

In the youth jug 10- to 15-yearold division, Lucas Talley was first with a 105.3-pound catch. He also finished first in the 4- to 9-year-old division last year Dylan Wall took second (99.9 pounds), and Brandon Davis finished third (80 pounds).

In the pole division, Misty Cox took first with a 70-pound catch. Dylan Stewart was second (62 pounds), and Jesse Picone finished third (48.9 pounds).

In the catfish division, the team of Watts, Abram Martinez, Bryson Martinez and Palmer added to

The team of Scott Watts, Abram Martinez, Bryson Martinez and Austin Palmer hauled in a 195.6-pound alligator gar in the adult jug division to set a rodeo record.

their trophies with a first-place catch of 43.3 pounds. Team Scofish finished second (38.6 pounds), while Stevie Penn took third (35.7 pounds). Jonathan Parker defended his

bow fishing division crown with a three-fish total of 39.1 pounds. Shawn Sanders was second (30.2 pounds), and Tristen and Nick took third (21.7 pounds).

the new

said. “We’ve

long and hard to get this to where it is today The community has been so supportive of everything that we needed. Everyone has worked hard for this improvement.”

DISTRICT 7-4A

Continued from page 1B

think this team is a little deeper than in years past. A reason for that depth is some of the injuries last year forced younger players into additional playing time. If the Titans avoid injuries to their two-way athletes, this could be Indest’s best year yet.

Pearl River

The Rebels are the other district team with a returning quarterback in senior Brayden Hutchison. His experience, and just as importantly, the fact that he is embracing new coach Jerry Leonard is a huge plus. Change can be good, but it is always challenging, so how quickly the team adapts to Leonard is obviously the most important storyline. But I think the other one is the schedule since the Rebels have five road games and an open date in the first eight weeks. That will either be a lot of bonding time or a bit of a distraction for a first-year coaching staff. If the team embraces the road-warrior mentality, it will be stronger for it.

Loranger

Long-time coach Sam Messina has moved on to become the head coach and athletic director at Independence, his alma mater So first-year coach Chris Powell will guide the Wolves in 2025. The good news is that Powell has been an assistant at Loranger for the last seven seasons, so he’s very familiar with the players. But there will be change, so how quickly the systems are implemented will be important. What will define the season is junior

DISTRICT 9-2A

Continued from page 1B

familiar name to many St. Tammany

running back Rylan James. Last year, he rushed for 1,861 yards on 249 carries with 19 touchdowns, so how well the Wolves take advantage of the playaction opportunities provided by James will go a way to allowing them to build on last year’s playoff victory Hannan

The Hawks went into the offseason with some momentum after winning a road playoff game for the second time in the last three years. Now, they return eight starters on offense, but how well they can replace quarterback Brody Smith (over 2,000 yards passing, 16 TDs) and receiver Hayden Alonzo (1,103 yards receiving, 10 TDs) will define the season, offensively Hannan should be an improved team under second-year coach Steve Soper as the Hawks have increased their numbers and have several starters returning. The only problem is that the entire district has seemingly improved, so Hannan will have to stack wins early to build some momentum.