ABITA SPRINGS • BARKER’S CORNER • BUSH • COVINGTON • FOLSOM • LACOMBE MADISONVILLE • MANDEVILLE • PEARL RIVER • SLIDELL
Farmer The St.Tammany
Scan here to sign up for our weekly newsletter, The North Shore Report
S T TA M M A N Y FA R M E R.N E T
Mandeville to do major drainage project along La. 22
|
W e d n e s d ay, S e p t e m b e r 3, 2025
50¢N
‘We have mixed emotions’
Former Northlake Christian School official accused of stealing over $25,000 BY BOB WARREN Staff writer
Parish president in 2005 when Katrina roared ashore, its eye crossing just east of Slidell. “I think it’s still appropriate.” Katrina’s devastation in St. Tammany was thorough. Low-lying communities suffered massive flooding. Much of eastern St. Tammany and Slidell were underwater. And from end to end across the sprawling parish, huge pine trees lay across countless rooftops. Nearly 50,000 structures were damaged, the parish government said at the hurricane’s 10-year anniversary in 2015. The public school system sustained around $125 million in damage. The parish has previously said 112,971 households made claims of some sort related to the storm. About $2 billion in claims, excluding flood, were paid. “We have mixed emotions,” said Davis, the keynote speaker at the parish’s ceremony. “It was a tragic event — it impacted hundreds of thousands of people. But I think we still need to talk about it.” Addressing the group that gathered under a couple of tents as a light rain fell on
A former administrator at Northlake Christian School near Covington has been accused of stealing money from the school. A St. Tammany Parish grand jury indicted Madeleine Lewis Aug. 20 on one count of theft over $25,000, stemming from “a series of a monetary thefts” from the school, the northshore District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. Lewis, who handled marketing and admissions for the school, was let go last year, the school said. Mandy Fraher, a Northlake spokesperson, said parents of students at the school were sent a statement from the school’s board of directors about the indictment. “While this has been a challenging and deeply unfortunate season for our school community, we appreciate the diligence of the District Attorney’s office in addressing the matter of unauthorized spending at Northlake Christian School,” the school said in the statement. “We are committed to seeking biblical solutions, pursuing genuine reconciliation, and acting in the best interest of our students and school. We respect the role and authority of the District Attorney’s office and will continue to cooperate fully with its investigation.” The DA’s office would not provide details, but said investigators had received “meaningful cooperation from the school’s Board of Directors.” Garrison Jordan, an attorney representing Lewis, said they had no comment when reached by phone last week. In the notice to parents, Northlake also announced the departure of Head of School Glenn Martin and Associate Head of School Ben Warner. The notice said Sean Englert and Nick Chetta had been appointed
ä See ANNIVERSARY, page 4A
ä See OFFICIAL, page 4A
BY KIM CHATELAIN Contributing writer
The Mandeville City Council has cleared the way to begin a major drainage project designed to address flooding along one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. The council at its Aug. 28 meeting unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Clay Madden to execute a $9.8 million construction contract for improvements to drainage along La. 22 on the west side of the city. The contract is to be signed with Richard Price Contracting Co., LLC of Denham Springs, the lowest bidder. Another company — Triumph Construction LLC – submitted a bid lower, but then withdrew it after the company discovered “a mathematical/clerical error in at least one line item in its bid,” according to a letter from the company’s attorney. The $9.8 million bid is about 25% less than the project’s estimated construction cost prior to bidding. The work consists of installing storm drainpipes and drainage structures along the thoroughfare that provides a direct link between Mandeville and Madisonville. It also involves incidental removal and replacement of concrete and asphalt drives, removal and replacement of concrete walks, water line installation, and other associated work. Construction is to be completed in about 18 months after work begins. Kyle Associates LLC is the project’s designer. In other matters, the council introduced a revamped ordinance that would strengthen tree regulations in the city. Because it was an introduction, no action or discussion was allowed on the ordinance, which is expected to be the subject of a public hearing and council vote within the next month. The proposal would add the bald cypress and Southern magnolia to the trees that are protected in the city. It would also spell out other provisions for protecting the city’s tree canopy and stiffen fines for those who violate tree regulations. Mandeville’s current regulations protect only live oaks. The tree ordinance appeared on the council’s agenda in June and again in July, but it was postponed both times amid concerns about the potential impact on new construction.
151ST YEAR, NO. 47
PHOTO BY GRANT THERKILDSEN
St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper listens as former St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis speaks about his remembrances of Hurricane Katrina on the 20th anniversary of the storm. A permanent memorial acknowledging the storm’s impact on the parish and its people was dedicated at Camp Salmen near Slidell on Aug. 29.
St. Tammany gathers for 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina BY BOB WARREN
Staff writer
Gone are the most visible reminders of Hurricane Katrina, the vacant houses and businesses with dirty water lines still showing the depth of the floodwaters. But 20 years later, scars linger across pockets of St. Tammany Parish. They reveal themselves from time to time. “I didn’t sleep well last night — the thunder and lightning brought back some bad memories,” Kevin Davis said after a ceremony at the city’s Camp Salmen Nature Park to dedicate a Katrina memorial. But, Davis said, taking a step back, talking about what happened and marking momentous happenings — good and bad — has its value. “I think we’ll always memorialize Katrina,” said Davis, who was St. Tammany
St. Tammany’s fall festival season ready to kick off BY JESSICA SAGGIO Contributing writer
There is no shortage of fun in St. Tammany once the fall season kicks off. Fairs, festivals, art, sports and music fill almost every weekend once the pumpkin spice is brewing and a twinge of an autumn breeze teases the air. Fall isn’t just fall in St. Tammany. It’s party time. Shhh. Don’t tell Mardi Gras. And while the area is known for some big events — includPROVIDED PHOTO ing the St. Tammany Parish Fair or Ozone Music Festival Patrons line dance at last year’s NOLA Zydeco Fest at Heritage Park in Slidell.
SAVE $ 72 1
SAVE $ 50 1
LB
SAVE $ 01 3
— it also has become a groundswell of budding traditions. In every corner of the parish, emerging events are starting to capture more traction. So this year when making those weekend plans, perhaps it’s time to schedule some new adventures. Here are seven lesser-known — but growing — events to check out this fall in St. Tammany. The Louisiana Food Truck Festival is expected to be bigger than ever this year on Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Harbor Center near Slidell. It will feature 27 food trucks, the most yet, that
LB
NEW CROP
will include cuisines for every taste. Guests can vote for their favorite trucks, a friendly competition to select a “people’s choice” favorite, as well as by a panel of judges. This food truck festival will also feature arts and craft vendors, a children’s area and live music. The band Bayou Stampede will perform first, followed by Al “Lil’ Fats” Jackson. Admission is free, and food is available for purchase. Lago Fest on Sept. 21 is a day of celebrating and sharing
ä See FESTIVAL, page 2A
SAVE up $ 37 to 7 When You Buy 3
LB
— ONLY —
100% PREMIUM USDA ANGUS CHOICE BEEF
Boneless Chuck Roast
4
$ 98 LB
— ONLY —
PREVIOUSLY FROZEN
Chicken Wings
1
$ 77 LB
— ONLY —
WASHINGTON STATE GROWN
Premium Gala Apples
99 ¢ LB
— ONLY —
15.77 - 23.45 OZ SELECTED
Red Baron Pizza
10
3/$ LB
OR 14 OZ CONTAINER OR 3 CT BARS
Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream
visit rouses.com for more weekly ad specials!
Prices good at all New Orleans, Gretna, Kenner, Metairie, Marrero, Slidell, Mandeville and Covington stores September 3rd - September 10th, 2025.